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Website: Mad Pride Madness or mental illness is sometimes a permanent state, or temporary and treatable. Those who survive it are increasing awareness of the personal and social struggles to integrate back into the mainstream society which stigmatizes and ostracizes those who experience(d) it. Like a physical illness, mental and emotional sickness can have various reasons and the cures have to be found within the individual and surrounding environment. Segregation or ostracism where walls were built to hide whether to protect or prevent interaction with society are being broken down so that a greater understanding will perhaps bring about a more wholistic cure for individuals and society. This annual festival is organized by several mental health associations who counsel and help mental health consumers. Adding the word pride, as the g***movement did, tries to erase the embarassment of admitting to a mental illness. To be labelled crazy or insane or punished by family, friends and even psychiatrists, made matters worse. Some treatments by mental hospitals were more similar to torture methods, from lobotomies to electric shock. Now medications for sedation with counselling are more common to cut down the violence which sometimes afflicts those who have a mental disability. Some had abusive backgrounds which led to the illness. Others were creative genuises such as Nijinsky, according to Naomi Laufer who painted a few banners for the parade. The Opening at May Robinson Auditorium was attended by government representatives such as Honourable David C. Onley and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Ontario Human Rights Chief Commission Barbara Hall. Organized by Ruth Ruth Stackhouse this festival will maybe gain more audience when the public health system treats patients for physical, mental, emotional and social illnesses simultaneously as all are part of ourselves. One part can affect the other parts, such as death of a love one can trigger depression and melancholia, even suicide. Or immigration can cause culture shock and ostracism from mainstream due to differences in culture and values. Homelessness and malnutrition can cause physical and mental illness. As more survivors share their experiences and how they solved their problems with the help of social and mental health workers, psychologists and psychiatrists, society understands and allows a more supportive healing environment to reintegrate those who were diagnosed. Like the walls that are no longer along CAMH, the freedom to rejoin society and become well is possible. It need not be a permanent stigma preventing healing nor separating survivors forever from society.
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