Faces of Mental Health - Naditha's Story
Mental illness is not anonymous. Those who struggle have names and faces, lives and families, passions and challenges. To help break the stigma, the Outrun the Stigma Edmonton planning committee reached out to the University of Alberta community to share stories on mental health.
Hear their stories and their experiences.
Naditha Bhat, Edmonton
Naditha Bhat
I was formally diagnosed with chronic depression and PTSD four years ago. I had struggled with mental illness since I was a pre-teen but never thought to find help. Growing up, there was a lot of stigma concerning mental illness in my cultural community.
Mental health was a taboo subject and those of us who were diagnosed often remained silent in fear of judgment. As my depression went untreated, I began to isolate myself from my friends and family in order to keep my mental illness a secret.
This all ended in me reaching rock bottom and finally making the leap to find professional help.
After years of talk therapy, medication and personal support, I have reached a place where I am happy in life. Although this journey was difficult, it made me aware of how incredibly important it is to create an open dialogue regarding mental health. By eliminating the stigma around mental health, we can help improve and save the lives of those around us."
Want to join the Faces of Mental Health campaign?
Email us at edmonton@outrunthestigma.ca to learn more, or direct message us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook @outrunthestigma
We would like to thank the brave individuals featured in this campaign for their openness and resiliency in the face of struggle. Thank you for opening up and sharing your stories!
Do you need support?
If you in immediate danger of hurting yourself or someone else phone 911. For other support please call:
Calgary: Distress Centre Calgary - (403) 266 HELP (4357)
Edmonton: The Support Network Distress Line - (780) 482 - HELP (4357)
Are you somewhere else in Canada? Find a crisis line near you.
International? Find a crisis line near you.
To chat with someone live online go to 7cups.com.