It's a long road yet to travel before the stigma associated with mental illness is banished, but a Saturday evening event proved the march is unyielding.
In the second of what has become an annual event, individuals, businesses and groups nominated by the community as champions of mental health were honoured at a banquet in North Battleford
In addition to applauding the awards presentation, the crowd of 200 was brought to tears and laughter during a performance by Big Daddy Tazz, a comedian who uses his own mental illness to bring awareness and insight to the wider community.
The Champions of Mental Health Awards initiative was conceived and organized in 2009 by the North Battleford branch of the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan (RPNAS), with five members of the community being presented awards at the first banquet in 2010.
This year, there were two awards presented in mental health staff category, one in the supportive employer category, one in the community based mental health organization category and one in a category for volunteer/volunteer group.
The Supportive Employer trophy was awarded to Koopman's Auto Body. The nominator for supportive employer wrote: "Ed [Kooopman] and his staff are the perfect example of champions of mental health by acceptance and decreasing stigma."
Koopman's provides employment to mental health clients that helps them feel accepted comfortable and valued, and provides an opportunity to learn desired skills. Even when clients retire, they come back for coffee and the company of the staff at Koopman's.
One of two Mental Health Staff awards was presented to Chris Ebach, extended psychiatric rehabilitation facilitator at Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford.
Originally from North Battleford, Ebach's background is in education, having taught for seven years, primarily in Special Education, before making a career change in 2008.
Ebach was described as a "role model for all staff."
He works mainly with Rehab II and III patients, who can present extremely challenging behaviours. But Ebach is "always respectful, positive and professional."
A second Mental Health Staff award goes to Lucy Bendall, RPN, who works at Battlefords Mental Health Center as a Community Mental Health Nurse, providing community follow up to mental health clients.
Bandall was described as a passionate about her jobs. She feels it's important to advocate for the rights of the mentally ill, a group who lack the ability to speak up for themselves in areas of housing, employment and basic human rights. She has an interest in providing education and awareness to families whose children have been diagnosed with a major mental disorder.
The Community Based Mental Health Organization award went to Marilyn McGown who operates an approved home for mental health clients. McGown's early career was farming and raising a family. She has been enjoying being a caregiver at her group home since 2005, and her clients are part of her family and involved in everything she does.
One of McGown's clients spoke in glowing terms of how she treats everyone in her home with dignity and respect.
The Volunteer Organization award went to the Shellbrook Bingo Volunteers. They have been coming to SHNB and providing this event for over thirty years, donating prizes, snacks and treats. The patients at the hospital look forward to their arrival each and every month and appreciate the companionship they provide.
The Champions of Mental Health Award recipients are chosen from among nominations submitted by the community naming people deserving of recognition for their contributions to the cause and needs of the mentally ill in the Battlefords area. President of the North Battleford branch of RPNAS, Marion Palidwor, says advocacy for quality integrated mental health services and policy falls within one of the mandates of the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association. The Champions of Mental Health Awards not only acknowledge those in the community who are making a difference in the lives of people living with mental illness, but bring an awareness to the public, locally and further afield, of the continuing need to improve mental health services.
This year's banquet also hosted a performance by a comedian who has made a name for himself addressing mental health issues through humour.
Big Daddy Tazz is a father and comedian from Winnipeg who believes the best way to deal with mental illness is to put on a positive face.
For the last seven years he has run a comedy benefit for the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba, which has grown to include over 1,200 guests.
