Keep The Faith

There’s things I’ve done I can’t erase

Every night we fall from grace

It’s hard, with the world in your face

Try to hold on, try to hold on. . . 

~ Bon Jovi, ‘Keep the Faith’

 

I believe in the Holy Trinity, and I believe in the Blessed Virgin.

I believe in God, and I believe in science.

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To See A Light That Shines

Click to read Cate’s bio

This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
Let it shine.

Did you sing this song as a child? I did.

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others

 This post contains discussion of chronic suicidal thinking. There are no actual suicides described or images.  Please read at your discretion.

 

Click to read Cate’s bio

I was sitting in the office of my Pain Management Specialist.  Also in the office was a medical student.  I know most people don’t like medical students sitting in on appointments, but I don’t mind.  They have to learn about the patient’s perspective somehow, and because in New Zealand their exposure to mental health, as part of their training, is so small, I think it’s vital that they get all the exposure they can get.

World Suicide Prevention Day

Trigger Warning:  As indicated by the title, this post discusses suicide.  Not graphically, and not in detail, but if the topic is especially triggering to you, you may want to make the choice not to read on.

Today is 10 September 2014, a day that has been designated World Suicide Prevention Day by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).  I know that this is a very frightening subject for so many people, with or without mental illness, to talk about.  But do you know what I think is even more frightening than discussing suicide?  Not discussing suicide.

It was the best of times and it was the worst of times

click to read SSG’s bio

Well, hello there.

I have been very absent from Canvas in the last few months.

For those who don’t follow my blog or never quite made it there in a while, here’s the skinny. I was an inpatient at a mental health unit for three weeks in September/October 2013. From there, I was referred to a four-week Day Hospital program that kept me quite busy.

BFMH 2014 – Much Love & One Request

art by Piper Macenzie

As the weekend approaches, when I will begin sharing out Blog For Mental Health 2014 pledge posts on our social media, I want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has participated so far.  It’s only been four days, and holy wow, look at our Blog For Mental Health 2014 Official Blogroll!

So many of you have done more by sharing the post through social media, by cheering me on from behind-the-scenes, and by just inspiring, supporting, and utterly humbling me.

I just have one request to make. . .

Blog For Mental Health 2014

ATTENTION PLEASE!  AFTER YOU READ THROUGH THIS POST, PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PAGE ON THE OFFICIAL BLOG FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT SITE.  ALSO, PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT OUR TAKE THE PLEDGE PAGE FOR MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS, SHOULD YOU NEED THEM.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, friends in the blogging world and outside of it, the time has come.  So sit down, squat down, or lie down, but make yourselves at home.  Because it’s time at last for. . .

art by Piper Macenzie

Are you as excited as I am?  I don’t think anyone could be, but please humor me and try to give a good imitation.  😉

Blog For Mental Health 2014: The Prologue

It’s official, loves.  2013 is over, 2014 is here.  We’ve all survived one more trip around the sun on this wild, spinning ball we call a planet.  It was a rough year for many of us, but it was a great year for a lot of us, too.  Whether you feel you had the former or the latter (or maybe a bit of each), you should be very proud of yourself, because you did make it through, and that’s not always as easy an accomplishment as one might think.

In any case, I’m proud of you, and I’m grateful for you, too.