People will share their stories and struggles with mental health during the seventh annual Kickback Mental Health Marathon on Rogers TV.
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“Our focus is on personal stories,” Ben Strasser, who co-organizes the event with his friend Aidan Grummett and Patti Berardi, of Rogers. “We want to share the stories of people who are in the middle of their mental health journey and the steps they’re taking to get healthy.”
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Strasser said the goal is help end the stigma associated with mental health.
“I think it’s getting better but at the same time, I think there remains, in our society, some stigma attached to mental illness,” Strasser said. “We want people to know that it’s OK to not be OK and that it’s OK to talk about it and share experiences.”
The marathon, held Jan. 15 beginning at 1 pm, includes both recorded and live interviews with those facing mental health challenges. The idea is to give people a platform to share their stories.
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Some people are comfortable with a live interview while others prefer to be prerecorded.
“For many of the people who have participated in the past, it’s often the first time they have shared their story publicly,” Strasser said. “They may have shared with friends. Family or a therapist but this may be the first time, they’ve shared with a broader audience.
“It’s a big step and part of their healing process so recognizing and respecting their comfort level is important.”
Often the people who share are doing so to help others as well as themselves, Strasser said.
“Many have said, ‘if I can help just one person by sharing my story, then it’s worth it,’” Strasser said.
As well, bringing people together to talk also increases awareness of the services available locally and provides a kind of pathway for those who are struggling to follow, Strasser said.
The marathon also includes interviews with those who provide services including counseling to those who need help.
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