Testimonials

I hope that one day people will no longer be embarrassed to talk about the mental health challenges they face. That they will no longer be afraid of the impact on their career or personal life.

When the words “cancer” and “sarcoma” were uttered, Ariane and her parents fell apart. She had just started her first semester of university…Will she die?

If it is “normal” to have fears when you become a parent, know that it is not “normal” to live with intrusive thoughts. If your worries are keeping you from functioning, it’s time to get help. This is true for new moms and it is also true for their spouses.

As a psychiatrist, I understand mental illnesses more than many people, I know all the signs and symptoms and I know the healthy lifestyle habits to maintain to avoid them as much as possible. None of this stopped me from suffering from depression myself in the period surrounding the birth of my son two years ago.

Sadly, our family’s experience is not unique. Mental illness is a global epidemic that severely affects millions of people, along with their families, workplaces, and friends.Teens and young adults have the highest prevalence of mental illness compared to other age groups.

In December 2017, I was hit by a car while walking my dog. When I got home from the hospital, I received a diary of different moments during my time in intensive care. It was an extremely important and positive part of my recovery.

‟For a while, I really hated my body for what it was doing to me. It’s good to change it around and say: it’s just the vessel that carries me. In the end you have to realize that you are not the disease, you are your own person.”

If my experience has taught me anything, it is that depression comes in many shapes and sizes and everyone faces it differently. It’s comforting to know that I’m being helped with the latest technology in the field of mental health. As the result of those treatments and my desire to enjoy and get a lot more out of life, I’m doing better almost every day.

Following the accident, every moment and every move at the hospital was decisive. I was extremely lucky to recover with no serious permanent side effects. I know that not everyone is as lucky.

Was I scared of dying? No, but I was scared of leaving my family. I could never thank them enough for being there.