Guest Blog: Hopeful Aspirations by Tara Timmers

The journey to recovery has been Full, full of learning’s, expression and love. As I gathered my self esteem and pride in who I am I evolved from a creature with potential to suffer to an outstanding contributor to the mental health community. My message is filled with Hope for the future, my future and yours.

As a participant in mental health services, I have truly found myself and become what I aspire to be: compassionate, healthy, caring and giving. I have attained a lifestyle that enables me to help others and grow into my rightful stance. Through acceptance of my illness and gaining an insightful repertoire of knowledge I am more able to see the light of day, metaphorically speaking, and gather a will for peaceful interludes and personal reflection.

In the past five years, I have gone to school and graduated from Business Administration with 97% honours - demonstrating that mental illness will not hinder intelligent dialogue or being able to be fully present in the learning community. At school, I applied myself diligently and I take pride in my scholastic achievements. I have always been a knowledge-seeker, looking for groups/workshops/psychotherapy and any bits of help which could give me the skills to heal/cope with my illness. I do take medication and with it I can see such an outstanding difference in my personality and life choices from the stability it offers me.

There are so many opportunities out in the world and as a Consumer or Active Voice I have the right to become involved to speak my mind and to overcome stigma by challenging the illusional status quo. I am open about my illness and have met amazing people who are supportive and life affirming who want to hear what I have to say and this, to me, is progress.

This year I was a part of the FACES Campaign for Mental Illness Awareness Week and flew to Ottawa to represent Victoria, BC and all of us who live with mental illness. The experience was both exciting and challenging. However, it inspired me further to motivate others to come forward, get help and reduce society’s stigma toward mental illness.

Hope is the guideline for success, and recovery is expected. Starting now, let’s pave the way for all those with mental illness to be able to be full in their lives, healthy and cared for. We need to support one another toward our highest potential, offering our hands extended as each one of us moves forward into the enriched lives we’ve always wanted to live.

As a Peer Support Worker not only have I learned skills to provide a service and be a role-model to others, I have used those skills to help myself. It is a most rewarding and honouring experience to give back. This type of work gives my life meaning and purpose and brings me immense joy. I also appreciate the opportunity to be valued by professionals. Wellness is attainable, suffering is avoidable and connection to each other is imperative!! I support the process of recovery and wish the best for those with mental illness, here’s to the journey ahead!

Take care,

Tara Timmers

(Tara lives with Schizophrenia)