By Greg Nikkel
A collection of personal stories from people about their struggles with mental health issues, entitled “Breaking the Silence: Our Journeys of Healing”, will encourage people to speak up about their own struggles or to find help, said one of the organizers of the book project.
Darren Neuberger helped to organize the book project along with Ramona Iida and Geoff Brown, and it will be released at an open house on Thursday, Dec. 7, at Dominic Place, from 1-5 p.m.
The book will feature the personal stories of 25 people who have or are living with mental health issues, such as depression, bipolar, addictions, anxiety, or people who have lost loved ones to suicide, said Neuberger. The book is being published through Richy Roy’s publishing company, with the book cover photo shot by Christopher Borshowa.
All of the proceeds of the book will go to the Weyburn Group Homes Society and their residence program at Dominic Place, in the former St. Dominic Savio School building on Fourth Street.
“The stories will let people know there are people just like them out there who are sharing what they’re going through. Hopefully this will give people hope that there are people they can talk to. We want to end the silence,” said Neuberger.
The idea for the book project came about from a discussion Neuberger had with Iida and Brown about their own experiences, as they wanted to ask if there are others in the community who would be willing to share about their own struggles or journeys with mental health issues, with the intent to help others know they are not alone in their experiences.
“I’m thankful we’ve been able to complete the book, and I’m looking forward to the book launch,” said Iida, who will have her own story in the book, where she talks about some things she’s gone through, but also the effects of addictions and suicide by loved ones.
“Everybody’s story is uniquely different, and everybody’s story is equally important,” she added.
Neuberger shares his own story in the book about his struggles with depression, including a suicide attempt in 2002, and then his journey in dealing with cancer. He wrote a book that was published in 2010 about his struggles with cancer, and hopes this book will reach people who are going through mental health issues of their own.
“The book is for people who don’t know where to turn to, and give them the courage, and the ways and means to find help. They need to know there are other people who’ve gone through what they’re going through. We want to keep families together, and people can find resources they need and find encouragement to share their own story,” said Neuberger.
The group has set up a Facebook page under the title of the book, and Iida said they are hoping that more people will be sharing their stories, as they aren’t limited to the ones in the book.
“We want it to continue. It doesn’t stop with this book. If people want, we’d like for people to share their stories and continue what we’ve started,” said Iida, adding this includes if people have other resources or other forms of treatment that people might be able to try or look into.
“Maybe there are books out there or other kinds of treatments that people haven’t heard of,” she said, adding the important point is that people need to know, “they’re not alone. These issues affect all of us.”
The books will sell for $19.95 each, and all of the proceeds will go to the Group Homes Society, with all of those involved volunteering their contributions and time for the book project.
Organizers are hoping to have a person who will share their story at the book launch, and the public is invited to attend to buy a book and have a tour of Dominic Place to see the work that is going on there.
“We’re very excited to finally have the book come out,” said Neuberger, noting it can make a good Christmas gift.
“If they’re dealing with some sort of mental health issue, we encourage people to come out, and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” he said.
“Hopefully we’ll have a lot of people there who have stories in the book, or have stories of their own to tell,” added Iida, noting many of those who helped with the book will be there, including the photographer of the cover shot for the book, Christopher Borshowa, and others who helped collect and compile the stories.
