I have struggled with my mental health all my life, with depression as a teenager and suicidal ideation in my early twenties. In 2019, I suffered the trauma of betrayal on many levels and lost everything: my home and my savings; I was homeless and suicidal. In 2020, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with depression, panic disorder, and later PTSD. Talking about my struggle has been a big part of my healing journey and why I founded the DTBV Project.

Being an executive leader for a global company during a pandemic is no short order. Having to triage internal issues of suicide, depression, addictions, manslaughter, and brutal schedules with intense demands has its unique set of challenges. In addition, the recent tragic loss of my sister to mental health furthered my awareness. I am humbled to be a part of the Dare to be Vulnerable Project to bring greater awareness to Mental Health in the workplace and beyond.

Many times in my life, I have felt utterly helpless while watching loved ones suffer from mental illness. As a young girl and daughter, I watched my parent, my hero, suffer silently. Darkness prevailed in our house from an older generation’s stigma that labelled depression as a weakness. As a mother, I have spent years fighting the undertow of pain and defeat while my child, my sunshine, suffered. I know the first step to navigating care starts with a courageous conversation.

In my mid-30s, I had everything society told me I should have, yet inside I was crumbling. After returning from maternity leave with my second son, my anxiety, depression, and panic attacks became so overwhelming that I had to take a leave from work. At the time, no one was open about their mental health, and I felt completely alone. It was my manager who changed that. She shared her own struggles, which helped me more than any workplace program ever could. It’s why I’m so honoured to be part of this movement, helping others feel less alone.

I witnessed and experienced mental health, unhealed trauma and addiction at an early age. In 2018, I was diagnosed with Complex PTSD. In 2019, I lost my voice for 3 months and later found a tumour on my left vocal cord, which came from suppression from not speaking out. After three surgeries, I’m grateful for my voice and the ability to share my story. Sharing our stories became critical to me after losing three friends to suicide. I believe we all have a story, and sharing it is the bravest thing we can do in this life.

Growing up in social housing and a low-income neighbourhood, I dealt with stigma starting at a young age. Addiction and dysfunction were all around. Despite these conditions, I was fortunate to have a loving inspirational mom who taught my siblings and me to believe in ourselves. I learned street smarts to cope. skills that later helped me overcome major challenges, such as becoming a professional accountant. I'm grateful to now be in a better place, but my childhood experience left deep emotional scars including shame, anxiety, trauma and imposter syndrome.

I have had my share of mental anguish and depression. I was sexually abused by my father when I was a child. I put it out of my head. Moved on. Worked hard. Became the owner of a successful advertising communication agency. Life was good. However when I turned 40, something weird happened, and it triggered these continuous flashbacks of my father’s face that sent me into deep depression. And my only salvation was to open up and have a courageous conversation about it. Talking is so very important.