Walking it off (3 photos)

They walked the walk, and it’s okay to talk.

That from Sara McCleary, ‘We’ve Got This’ co-founder and executive director, and approximately 25 community members who took part in the first Walk Off The Stigma event held Saturday morning, based out of Sault College.

McCleary and husband Mike launched ‘We’ve Got This’ in February.

“We are a grassroots non-profit group aimed at eliminating the stigma around addictions and mental illness in Sault Ste. Marie,” McCleary told SooToday Saturday.

The walk began by heading out from the Sault College Indigenous Studies department’s Enji Maawnjiding room, then proceeded along Northern Avenue, Great Northern Road and back to the college.

“We really want to get people talking about what they’re going through, and to get treatment,” McCleary said.

“It’s our inaugural event. We didn’t want to do fundraising today, we just wanted people to get to know us and what we’re doing and make it public by walking through some main streets, so that people who aren’t usually involved in this conversation might see us and get involved in the conversation.” 

“We want people dealing with these things to get comfortable with going to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), the service providers, their doctors (to seek counsel and treatment).”

McCleary said ‘We’ve Got This’ aims to hold monthly events.

“Next month we’re going to do a pyjama day, we’re going to try and get the schools and businesses involved, to get people to donate two dollars to wear their pyjamas all day to support CMHA Mental Health Week (May 7 to 13). The idea behind that is for people with depression, it’s a great feat getting out of bed and getting dressed some days, so we want to support them by wearing pyjamas on that day.”

“Other ideas for upcoming months include a panel discussion in which people may speak about their experiences, and people can come watch and talk.”

“If anybody does want to reach out to us and say ‘hey, I’m having this issue,’ they absolutely are welcome to, and then I can help them get in touch with the right people,” McCleary said.

‘We’ve Got This’ may be contacted through the group’s Facebook page or by email at [email protected] or [email protected]

McCleary said she feels the increase in diagnosed cases of depression can be attributed to more people opening up about the illness, combined with people being affected by the awareness of a series of depressing events worldwide.

“It’s not right for anybody with depression (for example) to think they’re ‘not normal’ and not seek the treatment they need,” McCleary said.

“So many people are told ‘just walk it off, you’re just sad today,’ so we want to walk off the stigma,” McCleary said.

The walk was followed by a ‘We’ve Got This’ feast and an informal  gathering hosted by the Sault College Indigenous Studies department at the Enji Maawnjiding room.