Jade’s Story – A Different Side of Me

YOUR COURAGE IN ACTION – FROM COAST MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

“Everything happens for a reason,” says Jade as she’s describing her activities at Coast. “Everything that has happened to me here has been so great.”

Jade also goes by the Gitxsan Nation name Eeyence, a gift she received from her grandfather before he passed away. Eeyence means Leaf, and for Jade, her name is tied to the memory of playing piano for her grandfather to comfort him, and later participating in a drummed button blanket ceremony at his end-of-life ceremony. Music runs like a ribbon through her life, through hard times before Coast, and through the healing she’s doing now.

Jade first found out about Coast about seven years ago. “My Kitsilano mental health team told me I can come (to Coast) for various activities, like going to the park, chair yoga, watching movies, having healthy lunches, and different activities to go to, like Stanley Park or Trout Lake for barbeques or just different things to do.”  These are actually just a few of the activities offered at Coast’s Clubhouse.

Today, Jade is part of several more Coast programs, all made possible by your generous support.

A Place to Grow, Heal, and Belong

She’s participating in Brain Training, a life changing program that was developed entirely through donor support and which has recently expanded across Coast. “Brain Training challenges your brain, exercises it. We learned word puzzles and music training,” explains Jade. “The word puzzles had words I had never heard of before.” she laughs. Coast’s Brain Training program is the only one of its kind in BC, where participants learn social skills, problem solving, taking medication consistently, and overall functioning. 

She’s also part of Coast’s Music Therapy Program, where she drums and sings with other participants.

“It makes me feel like I can release my emotions, through the drumming that we do. We just have so much fun. And we go around in the room and say how we feel, and say our favourite colour and it’s just releasing your emotions and feelings, and feeling good about yourself, and communicating through music, learning the music. And the drum is amazing to learn.”

Generous gifts from donors like you mean that Music Therapy can keep offering folks living with mental illness the opportunity to improve their self-esteem, confidence, mood, sleep and day-to-day cognitive functions. 

Jade sings in Music Therapy shows at the Coast Clubhouse and shared one of the songs she’s found personally meaningful: “It’s called Unwell by Matchbox 20. I just love that song because it relates to my life and how – not now, but before, when I was by myself and in the psych ward –  I had heard that song, and I started crying and it sounded like my life, right? I used to see shadows, and I used to cry. I just felt that song so close to my heart.” 

Looking Ahead

Jade has plans for the future, and with your support, she’s learning the skills she needs to follow her dreams.

“I found out there’s computer class learning at Coast. I took a computer study here and I passed, and I got $1,000 bursary from Vancouver Community College that works through Coast. And so that helped me a lot with a lot of things, like clothing and getting a computer. I’m having so much fun typing and I’m learning. And now I’m taking English and this is my second year. Before I was the lowest level, like grade 8 to 9. But now I’m grade 10 and up and I’m learning a lot.”

And she’s working towards her goals: “I want to write a book about my journey of mental health. And in the near future, get a job as a Peer Support Worker.”

Jade likes coming to Coast because “it’s safe and positive to communicate with others. And I like the education connected to the Vancouver Community College. It’s better than walking the streets of the unsafe world we live in…and you can meet other people that are similar to your case of mental illness. You don’t say it, but it’s still easier to communicate with others. I like Coast because it offers different challenges, different ways to think and feel.”

With Your Support, Futures Take Shape

Jade says that it’s important for Coast’s supporters to know this: “Without Coast we would not have a social life. No opportunity to learn the many programs here. Coast gives me the strength to drum and sing with my family. They even have a job skills workshop. The staff are understanding.”

“I love it here. I just love it so much, I can’t stop coming here. When I can’t come, I miss for a reason. Like, I have to go to some kind of injection place where I have to get my medication or I have to go to some kind of drumming and singing. It has to be big to miss going to Coast.” 

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, Jade is finding hope for the future. Here is the chorus of “Unwell”, the song Jade listened to when she was hospitalized, and later sang in recovery: 

“I’m not crazy, I’m just a little unwell

I know right now you can’t tell

But stay awhile, and maybe then you’ll see

A different side of me.”

Your donations give someone living with mental illness the time and support they need to find a different side to themselves. Thank you for helping Jade to use her voice – your support is truly life changing.