Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida coming to Kitchener for mental health event
Posted Nov 5, 2019 08:45:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
One in five Canadians will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lifetime.
The campaign Show Your Sole is asking you – “Will you show up for the 1 in 5?”
Alison De Muy is Director of Strategy and Community Engagement at the Canadian Mental Health Association – Waterloo Wellington.
She said the project started about three years ago.
“The goal was certainly to create more awareness about mental health and addiction, and take away some of the stigma. So what they creatively came up with was to have people paint the soles of their shoes 'mental health teal green'. Mental health, unlike a lot of forms of physical health, you can't see .. and neither can you see the soles of your shoes.”
De Muy said the idea was to have people share photos of their painted soles on social media.
“The idea is that notable people in the community are saying it's okay to talk about mental health, to come forward and get care, and that we need to finally get rid of the stigma.”
Canadian musicians Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk are also getting behind the initiative.
“The launch of the whole campaign will happen November 22 at Catalyst137 in Kitchener. We're so excited to have Moon vs Sun – which is Chantal Kreviazuk and her husband, Raine Maida .. the lead singer of Our Lady Peace. They'll be doing a concert for us, and it will feel a lot like you're in Chantal and Raine's living room. It's casual-classy, and it's a great chance to come together as a community.”
De Muy said the proceeds will go toward CMHA WW's services.
“We've got, unfortunately, a long wait list for our programs and services. All of CMHA's services are completely free and as a result, a lot of folks are waiting to access care. A lot of counselling and treatment programs in Kitchener-Waterloo have a long wait list .. in our area, we have about 500 people that are waiting to access care. So the funds we receive through this program will go directly to reducing those wait times.”
If you're interested in attending the event or supporting 'Show Your Sole', you can see more details and get tickets by clicking here.
