One in five people suffer from a mental health disorder which means that everyone likely knows someone who is suffering from this disease. In honour of Mental Health Awareness Week, speak out and share your stories. Together we can end the stigma. If you have something to share, send your stories to Now@CP24.com. We'll keep this up all week.

Fight for your happiness

I never saw my depression as something I should be embarrassed about or ashamed about and was never shy about it. Not for one second. So when people ask me how others have reacted to the news that I suffer from depression, I say that I don't care what people say. This is who I am and it's something I have to live with, just like we all have something to live with.

There are some people who want to minimize this and say 'hey Landsberg is weak,' but you know what? I'm okay with that too.

Depression is a tough thing to say and it's almost impossible for people to say I suffer from mental illness.

When you believe that you don't have the freedom to come out and share, that sends a signal to yourself that you have something to be ashamed about, that you should be embarrassed. It's absurd but that's what we're fighting.

How does this damage people? How is our society worse off because there's a stigma? I have an easy answer for that. I've begun corresponding with people via email and have received maybe a thousand emails from people who say they've been miserable for so long, and have had no quality of life for so long. Sometimes people add, I've considered taking my life for so long. Yet, even with all of that pain, they say they can't tell anyone because they're afraid their wife will see them as weak or their employer will see them as weak and won't give them a promotion. They're worried about how the world will see them.

If we can get over the stigma, people can understand that it's like any other illness. It's not a weakness, it's not a personal flaw, it's not a demon, though it can act like a demon. It's simply an illness. And from that point, people can go for help and we can see a difference.

You can help people strictly by talking about it. All of a sudden there are a handful of people who hear people talk and say, that didn't sound so bad, maybe I have the guts to share my story too. I'm talking to you at home who never wanted to share the story about your depression because you're embarrassed. If you share it with just one person, it will change your life.

If you suffer, share your suffering with someone else and that gets you the help you need. Share with your doctor and understand that this is a fight. Fight for your happiness.

Michael Landsberg, Host, Off the Record

My father's battle

My own father suffered most of his life with mental illness.

Very few understood him. The people, professionals, friends, and doctors who did knew he was a genius and a kind, loving man. But his disability made experiencing a full life quite difficult.

Mental illness is still such an incredible stigma. The thing is, I'm sure YOU are close to someone, or at the very least know someone, who also battles inner demons.

As a society, we need to address this and get to people when they are YOUNG to teach them methods to manage their mental condition or disease.

Fact: One in five Ontario youth struggles with mental health issues

Fact: Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10-24 year olds

Fact: For half of Canadians affected by depression, symptoms start before age 20

Fact: The average age for onset of anxiety disorders among Canadians is 12

Fact: The stigma surrounding mental illness keeps many people from seeking help

This issue is very close to my heart since mental health affects various people in my family including my late father. Most of us know someone with mental health issues and yet it remains taboo to discuss it and address it. The need for adolescent psychiatry is particularly important and continues to grow. Our children and teens are suffering from depression, suicide, eating disorders, and drug abuse more than ever.

Let's talk, let's donate and let's together make a difference.

Bryce Wylde, Host, Wylde on Health

You can't do it alone

My story involves a man named John Hanan. He was my boyfriend for seven years until four years ago when he took his own life. People often ask me if I saw it coming. Even though we lived and worked together, and though he told me everyday how he struggled with his thoughts and feelings, I never thought for a second he would actually kill himself.

But he did.

If today I could speak to someone who is going through the same thing, someone who is dealing with a boyfriend, sister, child, friend who feels like their life isn't worth living, I'd say this: You can't love them better. And even though you love them enough for the both of you, it's not enough to help. Depression is a real disease that is bigger than you and it's bigger than them. You wouldn't try and talk someone out of cancer would you?

There is a tremendous amount of hope for them so please don't hesitate to reach out and get them the help they need. Since John died I've seen treatments work miracles for people who suffer from depression.

Four years ago, I don't remember people talking about depression as openly as they do now. Maybe if they did, I would have told someone what I was dealing with and John perhaps would have taken time off of work to heal instead of hang his head in shame.

Is there still a stigma attached to mental health disorders? Absolutely. But we're further ahead than we've ever been. Now is our chance to move forward, speak out and most importantly, reach out.

Look around you. One in five people suffer from a mental health disorder. But don't be fooled. It's likely not the man who always comes to work with a sour look on his face. It's much more likely to be the popular guy next to him whose laughter you can always hear from across the room.

Depression has a million faces. It's only through talking with each other openly that we get to see through the masks and save the ones we love.

Sandie Benitah, senior news writer, CP24.com

Learning to manage

I am now a 62-year-old man who has suffered from depression almost all my life. It only became apparent when I had a crisis when my marriage failed over three decades ago.

Doing well as a middle-class middle-manager, I then spiralled down to minimum wage jobs, then social assistance. After finally finding a psychiatrist who understood what was happening (strangely, a hard thing to do), I went on ODSP (disability social assistance). Hardest of all has been learning to live below the poverty line, relying on the inadequate and non-nutritious food from food banks has significantly impacted my health. Not many people actually realize than someone on social assistance only has $3 to $5 a day to eat, and often not even that due to high rents and inflation.

This situation has dramatically restricted my social isolation (not good for someone who has sever depression; I've attempted suicide a few times) and now I also have an axiety disorder.

But not all is bad. Taking charge of my life by volunteering and being on the boards of various non-profits that help both people and animals. I even ran (unsuccessfully) for city council. I have learned to manage my moods (mostly successfully). However, the challenge of poverty remains and I am ever on the verge of falling into deep despair. My dream is that governments will finally stop talking about poverty and actually do something to help.

I hope you can share my story to both educate others about mental health issues, and give some hope to the one in five of us who suffer some form of mental illness.

Ken Wood, Toronto

Suicides are preventable

I have had friends who have attempted suicide and it's the scariest thing in the world. The last thing you want to feel is that you weren't there for them, but believe me, it doesn't have to be that way.

My one friend actually told me that I was a huge support in helping her seek help which is why she changed her decision at the last minute. To hear that means the world to me.

I've heard of so many youth/preteen suicides lately it's sad. To know most of them could've been prevented is even more shocking. What some people may not know is that there is an increase of post-secondary students who are victims of mental illness. I am one of them.

I have suffered from anxiety and depression because of the stress of school. Thank goodness my university has a good support system which I can turn to when in need.

What people should know is that it's OK to ask for help. Don't be ashamed, for it can make all the difference in your life.

-Donna

Don't lose hope

I have yet to find a treatment for my anxiety and depression that works for me. I am about to try a naturopathic form of treatment. I am very hopeful....

-Ryan

I am glad to hear about this week. I think that this topic really needs to be moved into the public consciousness.

I have suffered from major depression since I was a child. Adults back then would tell me it (the depression) was all my fault, and I should *make* myself be happy. If only I could have. Instead, I learned to hide it, and hide it well.

Now I have been diagnosed, and treated with medication. Everything is looking up, and I am feeling slightly optimistic.

With my experience, let me offer the following advice. If you are suffering from depression, stop trying to hide it. I know it is hard, even without the current stigma, it is almost impossible to talk about. Try to remember that it ISN'T your fault! Talk to the professionals, and I am sure they can help. But don't expect one medicine or one form of treatment to be a cure-all. It will likely take take a combination. Speaking of the medicines. It's likely to take several tries to find the right one. It took me three. The first two made me feel worse. Increased the depression, I mean. The third did the trick. And the side effects on the right medicine are temporary. I don't have any more side effects to the medicine I'm taking.

I don't know what to say to those who don't suffer depression. I look on you with envy. Please be tolerant of those who suffer from depression. It IS an illness, and needs to be treated as such. People are often in denial about depression, especially after a suicide. They don't understand. They say things like, I can't believe they killed themselves, they seemed so happy! They had a loving spouse and x children, why would they want to kill themselves? Well, because there is something going wrong in their brain. Their emotions are stuck on sad, hopelessness, and thoughts of suicide. If they are like me, it isn't that we WANT to think about suicide. It like this: You ever had a song get stuck in your head? It goes around and around and you can't get it out? You don't want it to be there, you know it shouldn't be there, but it won't go away? And you start getting mad or upset that you can't get it out? Change the song to suicide, and that's as close as I can get to describing how it feels.

I hope that, with time, we can understand what causes depression, and eradicate it from the world. Until then, I hope we can develop a tolerance for those with mental illness, so that they can seek help without feeling embarrassed about it.

Adam Parker

You're not alone

As a 28 year old that has been living with mental illness for as long as I can remember I have now just learned that if you don't talk about it you can not get help.

I still have family I don't want to share my illness with because they do not understand.

If you are the loved one of someone with a mental illness seek knowledge and information about your loved ones illness. Until you understand and accept it you will not be able to help your loved one.

Mental illness is a struggle for the person who has it but most of the struggle is the lack of understanding others around them have. Be your own advocate! Educate people around you. Most people don't understand that when you have a mental illness you lose control of yourself but not because your weak or lazy or by choice. Most people don't understand that mental illness is in your brain and your brain is sick.

Treatment is hard to come by for those with little money. I know this first hand. So to the government. Smarten up! People need help and people need education.

To everyone out there with a mental illness you are not alone. You are never alone!

Andrea Johnson, Toronto

I was diagnosed with depression/anxiety disorder about 17 years ago. People were just starting to talk about prozac at the time and it was still very hush hush.

When I was first told about my condition a few things immediately came to mind. 1. I guess what they're saying is I'm crazy!! 2. No one will ever want to marry me with this awful stigma associated with me. I figured having children would definitely be out of the question. I had just turned 21 and figured my life was over.

Well I'm happy to say that I've been married for 11 years to a wonderful understanding man who I was upfront with right away about my condition. He's gone through all the ups and downs that come with this disease. I have 2 awesome kids who I sometimes worry about that they too will inherit depression/anxiety but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

My best advice that I could give anyone who is suffering with this condition is that you're not crazy, it is controllable even though sometimes it takes a lot of time and patience. Medicine is your friend and not your enemy regardless of what people will try and make you believe. Let's face it, if you had diabetes would you not take insulin to make yourself better? Why should this be treated any differently?

We all need some help from time to time in our lives regardless of the reason and most importantly please remember that acceptance comes from within.

Tristann Lewis

Medicine has helped

I'm 20 years old and I'm currently diagnosed as a anxious depressive; overwhelming anxiety leads to deep depression for me. I have struggled with this since I was 15 but hadn't fully understood it until now. Mental health is a grey area, everyone has mental health issues but it's the severity of it that always makes it a debatable issue. To deal with my condition, I am pursuing medicinal help. Some say I shouldn't because that's what the pharmaceutical companies want; to make me believe I have a problem that can be only solved by a magic pill, but for me it's a little more than that. When I'm overwhelmed I'm pulled into a deep hole that continues to get increasingly harder to get out of. I don't eat or sleep, I shut down mentally and emotionally becoming only a hollow shell of who I actually am. This has affected my work, school, and perspective. Its a battle everyday to remain positive and think sunny thoughts, it's a battle that I'm looking for help fighting. While I do know the controversy behind medicine and mental health, I am willing to take a chance. My health is one of the most precious things I possess, and in order to preserve it, I must explore my options.

Wish me luck,

Marie

Mental Ilness and my life pretty much go hand in hand. My husband and I actually met almost 11 years ago at a Toronto Psychiatric Day Program (we didn't date until we were better) ! Mental illness "runs" in both of our families...his illness is Bi-Polar Schizo-Affective Disorder with Paranoid Tendencies..and he is on Extremely Strong medications for this. I am also on medications for Major Clinical Depression and Anxiety Disorder. We are both intelligent people - living on his Ontario Disability Support Program. I'm stuck because although I worked and contributed to CPP for over thirty years, they don't consider me disabled enough to collect my OWN CPP benefits!

It is like a drug store at our house and even our grandchildren are used to us LOL..If My husband gets a little upset - the kids will say, "Dave, did you take your afternoon pills yet?" and even they know the importance of taking medication regularly. I find it hard to "wrap my head" (PUN INTENDED) around the fact that IF my mate doesn't take these certain pills, He WILL NOT be the Same Person !!

Lori

Be kind to yourself

I am a 21 year woman who suffers from schizophrenia. The disease runs in my family and as a teenager, I anxiously awaited for the day when I would 'break' and have my first episode.

I broke down in November of 2010 and attempted suicide for the first time in my life. Thankfully there were people around to stop me and I became hospitalized. I received treatment for my symptoms and was discharged shortly after.

It was hard to believe it at the time, but things started to get better, I started doing volunteer work, enrolled in school and went back to an old part-time casual job.

Because I was doing so well, I didn't think I needed any medication and quit taking it. Fast forward 6 months later and I relapsed. It was hard but I had enough insight to bounce back and learned that I needed to stay on medication.

The outpatient staff at the hospital have been wonderful to me and I wouldn't be where I am now without them. This is just the beginning of a journey and I understand that it's important to educate myself on this disease as much as possible so that I can thrive and become successful.

Another thing I learned through this journey is that there is an array of help and support out there and that you need to reach out if you want help. Don't give up hope, be kind to yourself and learn as much about your illness as much as you can.

Jennifer

My story starts in 1970 when I found myself signed in for life into a Asylum in England.

The hospital was called Severalls Hospital and it is no longer there like me.They tore it down a few years ago.

On this journey so many years ago, I like many others suffered from depression. I was given handfuls of meds a day and 13 shock treatments.These shock treatments made me forget so many things. I spent a year here taking cooking classes, feeding the geriatrics and going on outings with another patient.

My life changed when my Mom came from Canada to take me back home to Canada. My doctor said I am as good as I will get but may have to take meds for life and I shouldn't ever be put under stress.

In the next decades I had 3 sons, I now have 6 grandchildren 3 girls and 3 boys and my life is much better than what happened to me in the past. I am a Psychiatric Survivor that rarely thinks of those negetative days and have been off meds for 35 years.I also recently was on the TV show Pawnathon Canada where I sold Victorian jewellery.

Glad there is the awareness that there should be no "stigma on mental health. hings happen and things change!

Patricia Duck, Toronto

I am suffering from depression for the past 25 years, it is very difficult to live with the symptoms. It is very hard to talk to people even close ones because of the stigma.

I would really like to have a very strong campaign to educate the young. They are the future of our country and they are already learning to follow the stigma and become extremely judgemental. Youth associates mental illness with "craziness" and that it is very painful to hear and see. Moreover, the youth limit themselves to come out or see a doctor to have themselves diagnosed with a mental illness. I wish the youth can get very well informed about any mental illness.I wish the schools and colleges can do something about it and cut the vicious circle of stigma and misconceptions.

Rose