Materials.Business Newsletter ⚙️ September 26th, 2024
A New Era for Mental Health
Last Sunday, I had the privilege of attending an inspiring event organized by Sosa Eweka-Valentine, the founder of Talks with Sosa and Salt City Advocacy Society. The wonderful Rasie, founder of RB Jumpstart Coaching and RB Jumpstart Mentorship & Youth Leadership Training Society invited me and let me tell you, it was one of the best investments I have done in my self awareness journey. Thank you Rasie!!!
Sosa, a journalist and registered nurse, has dedicated her life to creating platforms for meaningful discussions on social justice, mental health, and the well-being of refugees and new immigrants, especially women and children of African descent. The event, titled “A New Era for Mental Health,” held in Surrey on September 22, was a remarkable gathering of speakers, poets, musicians, and bands, all united to celebrate mental health and break the stigma surrounding it.
Speakers and Highlights
Leslee Montgomery: With years of experience in her steel toes, Leslee challenged the mental health stigma in the trades.
“We are going towards an extinction of the trades people, where 16 of them commit suicide per day.
What is your first thought when you see a construction worker? .”
Stephen Quinlan: Stephen emphasized the importance of managing happiness to prevent anger.
“Anger Management teaches you how to put out fires, whereas Happiness Management teaches you how to avoid them.”
Denise Wozniak: Denise, known for her global advocacy work on behalf of children living with HIV/AIDS, promoted an “Us and Us™” mindset.
“What if you become one of THEM.”
Esther Ofori: Esther, a dedicated clinical counsellor, shared her compassionate and client-centered approach. Her meditation session was perfectly timed, allowing big emotions to settle.
“You need to really understand your needs, only you know what you really need.”
Joshua Lenti-Jones: Joshua, who studied at An Hui teaching hospital in China, spoke about the connection between body, mind, and spirit.
“The more connected you are with your own essence, the easier the healing body, mind, spirit becomes.”
Lindi Nolte: Lindi, active in Vancouver’s poetry slam scene, dedicated a poem to her dad, a source of inspiration.
“All things will be better.”
Lacey Lee Elliott: After a life-changing brain tumor removal, Lacey shared her journey of transformation.
“It’s ok not to be ok.”
Seyi, ThePoet: Seyi used his art to explore and document life’s struggles and triumphs.
“You were the one to abuse me - (replied the bottle of wine to the man).”
Musical Performances: The musicians were exceptional, making us dance and celebrate. It was the perfect way to balance emotions - believe you me, we felt them all! - Just like life itself, we experienced a wide array of feelings, even the ones we didn't wanted to look in the eye....
Lordnation: Displayed the buoyant sound of the violin in various genres, breaking boundaries and captivating the audience.
Kara-Kata Afrobeat Live Band: Their performance was a true representation of EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), bringing together ages, colors, and genders , along with a wide variety of instruments for the love of music. Their vibrant rhythms made the crowd dance and feel the love, marking one of the event’s highlights.
Panel Discussion: The event concluded with a heartfelt panel featuring Adam O. Neawon, who shared his experience of dealing with a terminal illness and the tragic loss of his partner. His story reminded us to cherish every moment and not take life, health, or love for granted.
The event was perfectly balanced, allowing us to surmount emotions of sadness, empathy, joy, happiness, and pride. We experienced a diverse array of emotions, emulating life itself. I resonated deeply with the hardships shared by the speakers.
Attending the “A New Era for Mental Health” event was crucial for me as an immigrant, a woman in a male-dominated field, and an entrepreneur. The event highlighted the shared struggles we face and the importance of mental health advocacy. It was a powerful reminder that we are not alone in our challenges and that together, we can break the stigma surrounding mental health. Why is this important for me? the statistics are alarming: in Canada, women in STEM fields face significant mental health challenges. For instance, 11.1% of women in engineering report experiencing depression, compared to just 3.3% of their male counterparts. Similarly, in mathematics and computer science, 10.4% of women report depression, compared to 4.6% of men. These figures underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health support and resources for women in STEM.
Let’s continue to break the stigma, rethink our biases, and act together, because what we criticize today might become our reality or that of our loved ones. This event highlighted our shared struggles and the essence of humanity, urging us to spread compassion and love—the very things we seek for ourselves. Like Rasie will say: Self Leadership starts with YOU!
#MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthAdvocacy #CommunitySupport #MentalHealthEvent #MentalHealthSpeakers #MentalHealthJourney #Inspiration #Empowerment #DiversityAndInclusion #MentalHealthSupport #Wellness #SelfCare #Healing
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To learn more: 2024 Speakers – Talks with Sosa
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We partnered with North West WOMEN in STEM - ever since speaking with Saba (co-founder) we couldn't resist putting #SDG17 in action once more. Have you listened to her podcast yet? https://youtu.be/fLP7yX1Bd7c?feature=shared
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