After writing for the Ontario Lawyers' Assistance Program, I thought, well, I live in Nova Scotia, so, I looked up the NSLAP website (http://www.nslap.ca/) and emailed Deborah Rozee, the Executive Director. Within an hour, she responded and asked me to call her. We spoke that day and discussed the advocacy work I had done. I was travelling to Halifax the following week ( we all need good timing!), so we arranged to meet at lunch on September 23, 2008. I met with Deborah Rozee and Cheryl Canning, the Vice Chair of the NSLAP Committee.
Now, this was an interesting meeting. For me to be having a lunch meeting with two representatives of the Bar Society was a little overwhelming, but I was more excited and keen than nervous. It was a great hour. We discussed my depression and recovery, and my mental health advocacy. They were quite interested, and commented on how honest my writing was. The Bar Society even covered the tab!
They asked if I would like to have an article in the The Society Record, the monthly magazine of the Bar Society, which is sent to all lawyers in the province. I readily agreed.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Ontario Lawyers' Assistance Program (OLAP)
In early September, I was reading through Dan Lukasik's site ( www.lawyerswithdepression.com), and noticed an article by John Starzinsky, the Vounteer Executive Director, of OLAP, discussing his bi-polar. I clicked on the OLAP's site (www.olap.ca) and learned about the program. It was re-assuring to come across another lawyer, with a mental illness. John, Dan and I made three I knew.
I emailed John and we exchanged messages for awhile. He was very supportive, and encouraged me to continue seeking a public forum to discuss my depression and recove. I suggested I write an article for the OLAP. He thought it was a great idea. I sat back, took a couple of days and wrote a long piece and submitted it. He had it posted online in a day. ( www.olap.ca/keith-anderson.html)
He and I continue to communicate by email and phone. One never knows from where support may come.
I emailed John and we exchanged messages for awhile. He was very supportive, and encouraged me to continue seeking a public forum to discuss my depression and recove. I suggested I write an article for the OLAP. He thought it was a great idea. I sat back, took a couple of days and wrote a long piece and submitted it. He had it posted online in a day. ( www.olap.ca/keith-anderson.html)
He and I continue to communicate by email and phone. One never knows from where support may come.
Update / CMHA National Conference
Well, it's been awhile, actually months, since I last wrote. I stopped writing because I became busy, and I thought, still do, that not many, maybe no one, reads this blog. But, regardless I am back and will try to try to keep this on track.
Now, being busy has been great. Since the last summer, life has steadily improved and proceeded to a place I had not thought.
I spoke at the CMHA National Conference last August. I co-presented, with Fred Armitage, a workshop on depression and recovery. We each spoke for 20 minutes followed by questions / answers for an hour. The audience was very receptive and supportive. It was a great confidence builder to learn that I still had the ability to speak in public, as I had often done as a lawyer.
I also heard from key note speakers and attended some other workshops at the Conference. I learned more about mental illness.
I have to thank Carol Tooton, Executive Director of the CMHA , Nova Scotia Division, for inviting to speak and telling me that I would be accepted. Also, Krista Hooper and Christiana King made be feel very welcome throughout the entire weekend. One has to remember that this was my first public event in over 5 years. I became comfortable in a public setting, it felt real good.
Now, being busy has been great. Since the last summer, life has steadily improved and proceeded to a place I had not thought.
I spoke at the CMHA National Conference last August. I co-presented, with Fred Armitage, a workshop on depression and recovery. We each spoke for 20 minutes followed by questions / answers for an hour. The audience was very receptive and supportive. It was a great confidence builder to learn that I still had the ability to speak in public, as I had often done as a lawyer.
I also heard from key note speakers and attended some other workshops at the Conference. I learned more about mental illness.
I have to thank Carol Tooton, Executive Director of the CMHA , Nova Scotia Division, for inviting to speak and telling me that I would be accepted. Also, Krista Hooper and Christiana King made be feel very welcome throughout the entire weekend. One has to remember that this was my first public event in over 5 years. I became comfortable in a public setting, it felt real good.
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