Mood Disorders Society of Canada is proud to recognize 4 students from the Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology – Social Service Worker Program who raised funds in support of our international Elephant in the Room Anti-Stigma Campaign. The students are: Jessica Galeano, Sureaga Karunakaran, Julie Moran-Illes and Avital Pullan. We would also like to recognize the support and oversight from the Professors of their specialty program.
The students worked diligently to raise awareness about mental health and their specialty program is committed to care, compassion and respect. The Elephant in the room campaign provides support by opening up the conversation. Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a public college located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It offers full-time and part-time programs at the baccalaureate, diploma, certificate and graduate levels.
Between 4 – 5 % of Canadians are depressed at any one point in time – that’s roughly 1.5 million people. Too often, people are afraid of talking about mental illness because of the stigma which is attached to it. By displaying the blue elephant, people will either ask what the elephant is about (which can lead to discussion about mental illness), or they know that it represents a safe place to talk about mental illness where they will not be stigmatized or thought less of. Opening up the conversation is the single best thing a person can do for someone who is experiencing a mental health illness or mental health problem. The little blue elephant is a perfect way of doing so.
For more information:
Dave Gallson
Associate National Executive Director
(613) 921-5565
info@mdsc.ca
