My Faith Is My Foundation

Overlaid hands in connection

I would say that through this whole journey, my mental health and my physical health have become very important things to me. My relationships matter too, especially the one with my mom. They have been a big focus for both of us.

When I think about what gives me hope, I always go back to my faith. I am a Christian, so having God on my side gives me strength. Being part of a church community has meant so much to me. My personal relationship with Jesus is my cornerstone, and I really learned that through everything I have gone through. He is my foundation.

I also appreciate Support House so much. I have been doing their groups since they were in-person years ago. They have always been welcoming. I think the guidelines they use are a big part of why the groups run so well. Hearing those guidelines every time helps set the tone. My doctor gives me hope, too. He has been supportive since I became ill in 2018. This has become my new normal, and that is why I lean so heavily on these communities.

Every day is a challenge. Even walking is hard sometimes. Krasman Centre has been helpful for me, and so have the Ottawa groups like Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa and Mood Disorders Ottawa. I only join online because I cannot go in person, but the online options have been such a gift. Krasman has both online and in-person options. Support House has fewer in-person groups now, so having virtual ones is great, especially after COVID. I think you will probably hear that from others, too.

I like that the groups vary. Some are for social connection, some are group therapy, and some are workshops. There is a lot out there once you know where to look. A lot of people do more than one organization, and there is overlap.

What helps me feel connected are these opportunities to join groups and be around people who understand mental health. But even with the programs, I still go through roller coasters. Sometimes they help me, and sometimes I feel frustrated because I have to think about my problems again when I am in a group. The social-based groups give me a break from the illness side of things.

Walking with my mom has also become a really important connection. One counsellor at Mississauga Hospital told me to try walking daily. Walking has made us feel more connected to our neighbourhood, too. We know more people now. It feels helpful to have those interactions.

I used to do programs through Mississauga Hospital as well, like their mental health urgent care centre and the inpatient programs. I did the partial hospitalization program, which was all day, every day, for a few weeks, and then I graduated to the IOP, the intensive outpatient program.

When I think about positive things I want to see more of, Support House comes to mind. They do an in-person gathering once a year, and I know some of us were thinking it would be nice to have more than that. Maybe once a month or once every two months, something simple.

Before COVID, TEACH used to visit hospital programs and say that if we wanted to keep meeting after the hospital program ended, we could join their groups. That made such a difference. Online groups are great, but sometimes you want to see people face-to-face. Support House covers so much already, so even a small in-person social group could be helpful. It does not need to be mental health talk all the time. It could be something like social games or a casual afternoon get-together.

When those in-person spaces exist, I think what becomes possible is a real sense of belonging. Being around others who understand what you are going through creates a powerful connection. Even something like a monthly group, maybe in the warm months, could go a long way. I even imagined it happening in the parking lot at the Oakville office between two and three thirty. Just something simple where people can come, have fun, and not always talk about the hard stuff. I think that would mean a lot to people.

What I really want is for people to feel like they have a place. A place where they belong, where they do not have to explain themselves, and where they can show up without pressure. That is what community means to me.

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Curated by Gala Vukmanovic

This story was shared as part of Thriving Together in Community Project.

The purpose of this project is to gather community voices and ideas to help inform local organizations, service providers, and decision-makers. Stories focus on people’s hopes, strengths and visions for the future, as well as the challenges faced by people that are deeply impacted by the affordability crisis in Halton.