Stigma Enigma – Mingle with Maryvale featuring Guest Speaker Silken Laumann
Stigma Enigma, headed by local Family Physician Patrick Smith, has just announced that the organization will host the 4th Annual Stigma Enigma event the evening of Saturday November 11th at the Caboto Club of Windsor.
The Annual Stigma Enigma event brings in a high profile guest speaker yearly, in order to raise awareness about mental health issues and to bring a familiar face to the subject helping to eliminate the stigma to talk about mental health and encouraging individuals to reach out for help in times of distress.
This year’s event will feature guest speaker Silken Laumann, who is a four time celebrated Canadian Olympian who has portrayed her struggles with mental health in her book “Unsinkable. In her book she is honest about her challenges with cutting and anorexia and Silken will expand upon these challenges during her keynote address and question and answer period at this event. All proceeds of the event will go to Maryvale. A local agency that helps youth in our area who are facing mental health issues, counselling, day treatment and the Rotary Home for quick intake of youth at high risk for suicide.
Connie Martin, Executive Director of Maryvale stated that “The influx of the enormous donations receive through this yearly event allows us to hire additional full time therapists to significantly increase the number of teens seen who are currently waiting for counselling-which is a high demand area. In excess of 100 teens that were in great distress were counselled quickly last year due to the Stigma Enigma donation. These teens may otherwise have had to wait extended periods of time for counselling or fallen through the cracks.”
Silken Laumann, is known as one of Canada’s most inspirational leaders, a bestselling author, and a highly recognizable and beloved athlete.
Tickets for the event are now on sale and available Monday –Friday 9-4 at Maryvale or at Dr Pat Smith’ office Mondays 9-12 and Fridays 1-4. Call to buy tickets at Maryvale 519-258-0484 or Dr Smith’s office 519-819-1119.
Increase awareness and need of community involvement in dealing with mental illness. In light of major government funding cutbacks, children’s mental health treatments centres such as Windsor‘s Maryvale have suffered greatly.
