Around 70 people walk around Quidi Vidi Lake to destigmatize mental health issues

For the third time, the Sashbear Walk drew about 70 participants to St. John's Quidi Vidi Lake Saturday, donning bright orange shirts in support of those living with emotional dysregulation.

Charlene Freake is on the board of directors for the Sashbear Foundation, which organizes the walk and provides programming for people with experiencing mental health issues and their loved ones. 

"There's no shame. There's nothing wrong with struggling with your mental health," Freake said.

"If we can open up the conversation, maybe we can start not suffering so much, and at least not suffering in silence."

Though it was the third walk held in Newfoundland, Freake said the walks have been going on nationwide for 12 years. She said it's important to destigmatize conversations around mental health.

Those with emotional dysregulation have heightened emotional reactions, like frustration or anger, to outside factors and situations. It affects people with mental illness like borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder, but can also be present in people with autism.

The annual walk is Sashbear's main fundraiser to support its free online programming — something that Freake and her family have used themselves.

"We just offer that safe space where we share our lived experience. And it's all based on dialectical behaviour therapy training and skills. And it really does work," she Freake.  

"I'm a testament to it. Myself and my daughter found Sashbear while we were living in Calgary. She was really struggling with her mental health and it saved our lives, legitimately, honestly, because she had attempted suicide. And I believe if I didn't have the skills, she may have attempted again."

Freake's daughter now also volunteers with the foundation.

Sandy Wall, co-coordinator of the walk, said the programming provided by Sashbear was also a huge help to her family.

"My husband and I did it together and we were at the end of the rope, frankly," Wall said.

"It just helped us to help our kids because for a long time, it was always the focus on them and what they need to change and what they need to improve. And yes, of course that's part of it. But hey, me not overreacting when you're losing it, that makes a big difference, too. And it's hard not to do that if you don't understand what's going on."

Sashbear's programming, she said, is expansive — including 13-week courses on borderline personality disorder, autism or depression.