"The Stigma, I Think It's Starting To Go Away"

During the 64th National Mental Health Week, CEO of Eden Health Care Services says he feels the stigma of mental health is starting to go away.

James Friesen adds it's best to not hide behind an issue but find spaces where you can talk and share. Friesen says he's experienced that positive mental health starts with simply having a place to live.

"What we've seen evidence of and that is in terms of being involved in housing programs, is we've seen lives transformed when people simply have housing first. So they get a place to live, then you start building the context of community in there and building relationships, getting connected to resources in the community. Suddenly now a person's life is entirely different. They're contributing in a way that they've never imagined before and it's just because they got housing first before any of the other things were brought to bare."

Friesen adds we tend to put labels on things, so if someone identifies with a mental illness we see them through that lens.  However, he says that's not fair because we would look like quite different people if we all started identifying ourselves by our deficits, struggles and challenges.