One couple's attempt to break stigma of mental illness, addiction

Mike and Sara McCleary, wanting to start a conversation around mental illness and addiction, have decided to launch ‘We've Got This’ as a non-profit organization.

“The goal of the organization is to get the conversation going and hopefully, ultimately eliminate the stigma around addictions and mental illness,” Sara said.

The couple have started up a GoFundMe page in order to get the organization off the ground, with the goal of hosting a free outdoor event later this year. Ideally, they’d like to persuade former TSN host Michael Landsberg to play a part in the event. They’re also applying for a grant from the Rotary Club in order to make it all happen.

It’s an endeavour that hits close to home for the McClearys.

“I’ve lived with anxiety and depression most of my life,” said Mike. “Yeah, it got really bad a couple times, considered taking my own life once.”

“No motivation some days, something as easy as getting out of bed is like climbing a mountain.”

Then, about six months ago, Mike decided to look for help. He was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, and has been taking medication and going to therapy since his diagnosis.

“He was scared to admit that he needed the help, because he believed in that stigma,” Sara said. “He thought it meant that he was weak.”

Sara says that she has had her own battles with persistent depressive disorder.

“Your mind is like an overcast sky, and the clouds just never go away,” she said.

The couple hopes that having a mental illness and addictions-themed event will lead to more people being able to freely discuss mental health issues, without fears of being stigmatized locally.

Mike says that getting himself professional help enabled him to turn a corner personally. He says that he now has ‘a longer fuse’ than he used to, and an overall sense of clarity.

“It’s been an eye-opener,” Mike said. “It’s one of those things that even though I’ve been living with it, I didn’t realize how bad it was until I started to think with a clear mind, and who I am right now is a completely different person than I was six months ago.”

The GoFundMe page for We've Got This can be found here, while the newly-launched Facebook page can be found here.