My Story
A long time ago, when I was nine years old, my mother came into by bedroom and quite calmly informed me that there were people in my closet and we couldn’t let them out. I didn’t know it at the time that she was having her first psychotic episode. It would take another 30 years before she would be properly diagnosed with having Schizo-affective Disorder. I sought out resources that could help our family and I landed at the doors of the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society. Chris Summerfield, Jane Burpee and Karen Kaplen were instrumental in providing a sense of community for my mom whose life flourished after she began regular visits to MSS. My mom especially enjoyed participating in such activities as the MSS Woman’s Group which met every Thursday afternoon. Sadly, all three have moved on from MSS.
As anyone who has a family member with a major mental disorder can attest, life can be quite a rollercoaster ride. My dad was always emotionally distraught over my mother’s illness. As it was very painful for him, he preferred not to acknowledge it. However, he was next to her side the whole time and that in itself speaks volumes. He provided her with a safe home and he never abandoned her. He was truly a hero and I am also very proud of him.
As for myself, the hardships I have had to endure with my mother’s illness have taught me many valuable skills such as compassion, resilience, patience, and independence. I have developed a real understanding of what people with a mental illness have to face every day. Stigma is a challenge for both the person with lived experience and family members and hopefully one day stigma can be eradicated from society. All individuals, especially ones with a mental illness, should be treated fairly and with respect. My mother contributed to society in her own way each and every day