A safe place to talk about mental health

By Austin Grabish, The Selkirk Record

Mathew Dueck knows first-hand how difficult it can be to talk about mental illness.  

The Selkirk resident is living with post-traumatic stress disorder, and is a cancer survivor who knows the struggle all to well. 

But now he’s created a new space for people to talk about the disease, which is estimated to affect one in five Canadians. 

Starting March 26, Dueck will be hosting a regular bi-weekly peer support group for anyone living with mental illness.

People struggling with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, or any other kind of mental illness are welcome to join the new group, which will meet at the Gaynor Family Regional Library in Selkirk.

“We’re inclusive to any mental illness,” said Dueck.

The 20-year-old psychology student said his own struggle with mental illness inspired him to create a new space where people could talk about the disease.  

Dueck recently overcame a grim battle with lymphoma and was sexually abused as a child. Both have left a lasting mark on Dueck, who in the last year has also been battling anxiety. 

“It’s been a rough year for me,” Dueck said.

The new support group aims to help alleviate pains like Dueck’s by giving people who are struggling with mental health issues a safe place to speak. 

“I’m just creating a safe space that is supportive and that has resources for people,” Dueck said. 

“Let’s talk about this. Let’s get it out there if you’re struggling you should have a resource. You should have a place to come and share how you feel.”

Mathew Dueck

Dueck has accessed mental health resources before, but said many supports that are currently available have a specific mandate and only focus on one illness. 

The new support group won’t focus exclusively on any one illness and will be open to anyone.

“We’re looking at everyday challenges of people who struggle with mental illness,” Dueck said. 

The new support group will also fight to end the stigma that is often associated with mental health issues. 

Dueck said in his experience the general public doesn’t treat mental illness the same as other illnesses. 

“The sympathy really isn’t extended the same way,” Dueck said. 

“It’s easier to say that I (had) cancer than it is to say that I have (post-traumatic stress disorder), and that’s sad that we live in a society that that’s the way it is.”

Dueck said the stigma prevented him from getting help when he was younger.

“I knew that I was struggling with it, but I was embarrassed,” Dueck said. 

And Dueck’s not alone. 

The Mental Health Commission of Canada says 60 per cent of people with a mental health problem or illness won’t seek treatment for fear they will be labeled.  

“That’s over half of consumers that don’t want to receive the treatment that they require because they are scared of a label,” said Tristan Dreilich, mental health resource developer for the Canadian Mental Health Association. 

“That’s quite significant.”

The new support group already had its first meeting late last month and will begin meeting regularly every second Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the library starting March 26. 

For more information you can search for Mathew Dueck on Facebook. 

-- First published in the Selkirk Record print edition March 12, 2015 p.5