In recognition of Mental Health Month, we sat down with Andrea Paquette, Co-Founder and President of the Stigma-Free Mental Health Society. A powerful advocate and changemaker, Andrea shares her personal journey with bipolar disorder and the evolution of the organization she helped build from its beginnings, focused on bipolar education, to a national force championing mental wellness and inclusion for all. In this interview, Andrea reflects on the challenges of stigma, the importance of education, and what it takes to build a truly compassionate society.
The Stigma-Free Mental Health Society is a charitable organization that provides education about stigma, particularly surrounding mental health. I [Andrea Paquette] am the Co-Founder of the organization. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 25. I initially created the Bipolar Disorder Society of British Columbia in 2010 with a passionate board of directors. Our original mission was to provide education and support regarding bipolar disorder. Over time, our mission evolved to focus more on mental health, and in 2016, we changed our name to Stigma-Free Society. We recently updated our name to Stigma-Free Mental Health Society in 2024 to spell out exactly what we do. We provide education on mental well-being and stigma in schools and diverse communities, including rural areas across Canada. We envision an inclusive, stigma-free world where everyone is accepted regardless of their circumstances.
As I have been offering programs for rural and remote communities, I see a lot of stigma surrounding mental health, especially in men (societal and self-stigma). We are conditioned to think we should toughen up, get our work done, and be successful. There is also a stigmatized view that taking medication for mental illness is a weak thing to do. I hear people saying things like “I should be on less medication,” or “less medication is better.” For men, there is a misconception that they should “suck it up,” or that they are “weak” if they reach out for help. We forget that part of maintaining healthy wellbeing is having good mental health and overall wellness. Thankfully, there are a lot more conversations about mental health now than ever. I think this has a lot to do with the pandemic aftermath and seeing mental health issues in our children.
Mental illness or mental health challenges can look different in children than in teenagers and adults. Trauma is a significant factor in mental health issues. Mental illness can be difficult to diagnose in children, and many psychiatrists are uncomfortable diagnosing children early on, so they do not get the support they need. Mental illness is commonly diagnosed in teenagers and young adults (18-24) after they exhibit behaviours such as isolation, substance use, or avoidance. I did not know I had bipolar disorder until I was 25 years old. Even though the symptoms were there, I did not have the knowledge to know what was happening. It is common for people to be unaware that they are experiencing mental illness; it is vital to have awareness and understanding of these issues.
Stigma is at the forefront of struggle for people. It is a huge issue that we do not talk enough about. For example, it is common for individuals with mental illness to miss work episodically. In my own experience at a previous workplace, I was on an attendance review, even though I explained that I have a mental illness. I eventually went on a 6-month leave because of my mental illness, and when I returned, none of my coworkers asked how I was doing, even though they knew why I had been away. The stigma that managers and coworkers hold about mental illness can prevent people from talking about it. Self-stigma is a serious issue; we have such high expectations of ourselves like we should be able to accomplish everything with no problems or challenges, regardless of whether we have mental health challenges. It is important to be forgiving of ourselves and to give grace in doing what it takes to make ourselves well. There are not many mechanisms in place to help people deal with mental health issues at work or other places, which makes it challenging to take those steps to get help. Individuals with mental illness should be treated with dignity and respect.
It is rewarding. I have always thought that nobody is ever too young to learn about mental health and mental illness. At Stigma-Free Mental Health Society, we have programs for children as young as grade 4 and even worked with United Way to help build toolkits for kids in grades K-3. My mother has bipolar disorder, and when I was growing up, I was embarrassed about it because my family did not truly accept my mother. They held her illness against her. When my parents divorced, she was heavily stigmatized and regarded as an inadequate mother. My mother’s stories evoke a lot of passion in me. It is ok to be a parent with mental illness – it is not something you can control. It is challenging when you are young with no awareness or understanding of what is happening to be in a family that is unsupportive. It has been so rewarding to connect with children and give them what they need to be aware, accepting, and to thrive.
Whereas children tend to be open-minded and receptive, it is much more difficult to educate and transform the mindset of adults. Far too often, when a child has been demonstrating signs of a mental health condition (ADHD, OCD, etc.), the parents do not recognize that it is a vital issue and prefer to sweep it under the rug. Still, I have met many supportive parents and advocates, but also many parents who sit in denial. It can be very shocking and sad.
Something I think of right away is fixing all the relationships that have been harmed or shattered because of stigma and misunderstanding of mental illness. I reflect on a presentation I did where a young boy in grade 10 submitted a feedback survey to thank me for our presentation. He said that because of the experience, he was going to talk to his grandmother, who has schizophrenia, that day for the first time in 10 years. He had not spoken to her because his family stigmatized her mental illness. Healing harmed relationships is inspiring, and it is important to help people understand each other and have open arms of support.
Educate yourself. Look for quality information online (be careful because some resources are not legitimate or helpful). Become a student of mental health and mental illness, not only for yourself but for others. It might sound trite, but it also comes down to being kind. One way to be kind is to use non-stigmatizing language. Language is always evolving, and it is important to be respectful. Another important step is to reflect on situations and judgments and think about how we might react differently next time. We need to look in the mirror and think about how we can be different, how we can be better.
The first thing to look at is our ‘About Us’ page under our charity’s tab. The second would be our programs page. We have two program areas: the school program and the rural mental wellness program. It is important to us that people know who we are, our vision, mission, and values, and we hope that people will join us in our goals. Another great part of the website is the media section, where we post news-related content (articles, videos, etc.).
Ideally, we would be put out of business. I do not think that will happen anytime soon, though. Sometimes, all people struggling with their mental health most need a listening ear and not to have someone telling them what they “should” be doing. People just want to hold somebody’s hand sometimes. None of us has all the answers, and approaching mental illness with an open mind is essential. When a person is diagnosed, their life is not over. When I was diagnosed, I thought I would never be successful, never have a good job, never travel, have no friends, never get married – I have all those things now. There’s always hope and there’s always help.
We have 19 stigma-free presenters whose stories truly motivate and empower me to keep going in my career; I admire them all so dearly. They have many different experiences linked to mental health. When I began in 2010 by sharing my story, I had no idea what this organization could do. I am very proud that it is much bigger than me now and I share this platform with people who are incredibly inspiring and making a huge impact on the world. It is also inspiring to get feedback from students who say they realize now that they are not alone.
I say it time and time again, in every speech and interview, that no matter what our challenges, we can all live extraordinary lives. Whatever extraordinary may be for somebody, diagnosis opens a door for us to heal and live a more inspiring life.
– Becky Bishop, Senior Manager, Youth and Adult Programs
This interview was conducted on November 25, 2024.
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