Courage to Come Back Awards 2006: Guests touched by stories of Courage

L-R: 2006 Courage to Come Back Award Recipients Cheryl Peever, Jay Fewkes, Jessica Weihrich, Doug Cridland, Hope McCron, Amy Sky and Robin Harvey

Over 750 people attended the 13^th annual Courage to Come Back Awards Dinner on Tuesday, May 9^th.  Guests were touched and inspired by the recipients’ humbling stories of courage in the face of their illnesses and the stigma associated with them.

The awards are presented to people who have overcome mental illness or addiction and now use their experiences to help others.  One of last night’s recipients was Cheryl Peever, a social worker and manager at CAMH who has overcome multiple addictions and depression.

“Recently, someone described stigma to me as a brick wall, “ she said in her acceptance speech.  “They compared my agreeing to expose my past in order to help reduce stigma to throwing myself against that wall. Stigma is offensive and demoralizing. It does nothing to make the problem go away. It tears people down rather than building them up. If we each do our part, we can help get rid of the shame and isolation that holds people back and help them to move forward towards achieving their potential.”

 

Singer/songwriter Amy Sky was honoured for her candour about her struggle with postpartum depression.  Guests were treated to a moving rendition of her song “I Will Take Care of You” in which she references these experiences.

The event raised over $500,000 for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Read the stories of the recipients.

Get involved.

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