Hi My Name is Krystian Shaw
Last summer in 2017 I came across the CBC Canada’s 150th yearbook stories on the internet and learned they were looking for more stories, so I shared my story with CBC, who was in the process of publishing a yearbook for Canada’s 150th birthday.
I also shared with them about my Kamloops Self advocate newsletter and how I use the newsletter to accomplish my vision of stomping out stigma and discrimination of all disabilities, whether it’s mental illness, intellectual and developmental or even physical disabilities.
I would like people to move beyond the one day Bell Lets Talk Day https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/bell-lets-talk-day
and raise awareness about mental illnesses and diverse abilities everyday in our lives.
We should not be ashamed of our diverse abilities or mental illnesses but instead move from one of stigma to one of hope.
Everyone, whether you’re a child, teenager or adult, you may need help and support from time to time but you should never feel alone.
You are never alone with any struggles you have in life, and people should stop stigmatizing against diverse abilities or mental illnesses.
Remember, we are all in this together. Silence can be deadly. We all need to speak up and advocate for stigma and discrimination to be a thing of the past.
We need more kindness and compassion as well as education and inclusion in this world so everyone feels included.
I am happy to say CBC included me as one of many Canadian’s in the Canada’s 150th Year book for promoting change. I’m happy that this is one more way that my newsletter is becoming so well known in Canada. I want to speak at the inclusion BC conference this year about being in this book and about my newsletter’s progress.
When I was 22, I experienced a severe mental illness that only lasted a couple of months before rectifying itself.
As a result, I lost a friend because his family was afraid of mental illness and didn’t understand. That’s when I started to say enough is enough.
Something needs to be done about discrimination and that’s what my newsletter does; it informs and educates all people around disability awareness and success stories so discriminating stops.
I really believe education is the key to change.
I use diverse abilities to classify all those with challenges whether it’s physical or mental. It emphasises that everyone, no matter their struggles, have more abilities than disabilities and their abilities need to be celebrated. I have challenges yet I am running my own business.
Many with diverse abilities do have many abilities. And many more have other talents and skills who work to support themselves to be a responsible member of society.
Our lives matter and our lives are very productive. I also look up to role models such as Clara Hughes, a former Olympian who also has mental health challenges.
Although she still struggles from time to time, she is very successful in life just like I am.
My Newsletter is powerful, very entertaining and is a light read by focusing on people’s abilities.
I am very grateful for the advertisers that I have and to my readers and contributors because I think of us all as a team working together to make a more positive society for everyone.
This year I am participating in the big bike ride with the heart and stroke foundation because I believe in giving back to charities.
My goal is to be on Ted talk one day to further my efforts to promote inclusion.
I hope all my readers had a good Christmas and had a Happy New Year. Best of luck in 2018.
Another event to know about is:
CAMH One Brave Night for Mental Health™ takes place on Friday, April 6, 2018.
http://give.camh.ca/site/TR/OBN/OneBraveNight?px=1150514&pg=personal&fr_id=1101
What is the CAMH One Brave Night for Mental Health™ Challenge?
Step up and inspire hope for the one in five Canadians that experience mental illness in any given year.
CAMH One Brave Night for Mental Health™ is a Canada-wide challenge to inspire hope for those affected by mental illness.
It starts now and continues through to Friday, April 6.
Register today and ask family, friends and colleagues to join your team or support your One Brave Night.
