The domino effect in mental health

Priya Maini is a blogger who is an avid supporter of mental health. She is spreading the word about Progress Place Rehabilitation Centre to gain additional funding for the centre in hopes for them to assist more people in stabilizing their mental health.

We all go through the same 365 days in a year, but do we all live each day the same? Some days will be filled with infinite laughter and joyful fun while other days can be filled with endless tears and negativity consuming our minds. Sometimes these bad days can last for weeks and later you may realize that you’ve felt this way for months. When you’ve reached that point, it becomes a state that takes over your mind and affects your thoughts, actions and ability to function.

It all starts off so simple – one thing goes wrong in life and the next thing you know, everything else following it is just bringing you down. Picture an array of dominos. The first one is tipped and from there all the other dominos proceed to fall down in sequence. The next thing you know, all of them have fallen and it is no longer an array of dominos, yet just a big mess and pieces have fallen everywhere. Just like that, your mental health can be triggered very easily from something very simple. Once an occurrence and its impact has consumed your mind, it sticks around in your life for days, weeks, or even months, affecting you in many aspects and bringing you down.

Progress Place is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals of all ages who are suffering because of their mental health. They are dedicated to bringing people back on track with their distinct model they established which helps individuals find their own unique path to recovery.

Reasons why Progress Place is phenomenal:

1 – Offers hope, respect, and opportunities for personal development

2 – Gives an opportunity to build new friendships, obtain employment, housing, social recreation and an opportunity to build on education all in a welcoming and accessible environment
3 – Helps people stay out of hospitals, achieve their goals, and contribute to their community

Through hard times in ones life, gaining support is crucial because it sets the individual on the right path to get their life back on track. We all know there is a stigma attached to mental health, but places like Progress Place make it possible for an individual to easily walk in and get help in turning their life around if their mental health is triggered.

Their website, www.progressplace.org, has testimonies from members which state that they have had a life-changing experience.

“The amount of independence and freedom Progress Place has given me is incredible. I’m grateful beyond belief to have such a warm, non-judgmental place to come to.”

— Yael, Progress Place member

“Progress Place has given me far more confidence than I’ve ever had in my life. It’s an amazing place and I don’t know what I would do without it.”

— Steven, Progress Place member

I now ask you to reflect on your life and the lives of your close friends and family members. But first, let us consider the facts:

• In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental health or addiction problem.

• By the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, one in two have – or have had – a mental illness.

Given this, it is certain you know someone who is or has suffered from a mental illness. Although they may not have opened up about it, the change in their actions is a silent cry for help. In the comments below, tell us your story or the story of your loved one who has suffered and how they approached their road to recovery.

You can help people suffering today by donating right now to Progress Place and helping youth, adults and seniors obtain assistance in bringing their lives back on track. Every donation counts as every donation goes towards giving support and a lifeline to men, women and children in need.