'It's okay to talk about': Chantal Kreviazuk on ending the stigma around mental health
Winnipeg-born singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk is speaking out about the importance of ending the stigma around talking about mental health.
“The reality is all of us, every one of us, even on a good day, we have to work at our mental well-being,” she said.
“I’ve always believed we’re only as strong as the person who’s having the most challenging time in our immediate family, in our community. So, I think it's okay to talk about our mental health.”
Kreviazuk is leading by example as she’s set to be the keynote speaker at the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba’s Women’s Speaker Series on Sept. 29 – an event that supports women’s mental health.
“It’s hard to be a person today on any level because the demands are pretty overwhelming at times,” she said.
“In particular for women, we are the mothers in our world, and a lot is required of us, demanded of us, and sometimes it can be really challenging.”
Kreviazuk said one thing that has helped with her mental well-being is her creativity.
“We have to be creative. We have to remember our joy and how can we do that. How can we make a joke? How can we make someone else laugh and see our reflection in that person’s smile or in their happy, joyful eyes? We have to think of ways of resetting,” she said.
She noted that ‘resetting’ is easier for some than others, but it’s okay to reach out for help if you need help figuring it out.
“Some of us require, literally, a script sometimes, or we need to learn a skill for how to [do it] – the same way that you might want to learn how to put together a new barbecue or fix your sink or your garburator, and you might Google it and find out how,” Kreviazuk said.
“Well, it’s the same with any other aspect of our lives. There’s nothing wrong with trying to figure out.”
Kreviazuk added that there’s nothing wrong with reaching out for help, but that people don’t always know who to reach out to.
This is where the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba comes in, as it is dedicated to providing support, education and advocacy for those living with mood disorders, co-occurring disorders, or mental illnesses.
“The amount of service that has gone into the community from this organization is humbling to consider,” Kreviazuk said.
“So I’m so proud to support Mood Disorders [Association] of Manitoba and the programs that they have in place for women.”
Tickets to the Women’s Speaker Series fundraiser are $25 and can be purchased online.
- With files from CTV’s Michael Hutchinson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.