Dr Kelly Fleming

I’ve dealt with mental health issues almost all my life. One problem that I faced was the stigma of mental illness which made me not want to get help for a long time.

Finally, when I did get help, my life improved a bit. I say “a bit” cause they didn’t get me on the right medications (cocktail) before they discharged me from psychiatric care.

The other problem was accessibility. Psychiatrists at that time (approximately 20 years ago) did not want to have an ASL interpreter present because they were concerned about confidentiality. They didn’t seem to understand that just as they signed a contract of confidentiality, so do interpreters. So I avoided getting my medications fixed after I was discharged because I was too tired of fighting for the right to have an interpreter at my appointment. The few times they did provide an interpreter, they didn’t give me an extension of time so when abled people would get a 45 minute appointment, my 45 minute appointment tournes into 20 minutes maximum because I was using an interpreter.

When I had my mental breakdown several years ago, I fought hard to receive access to services. Thanks to the pandemic, groups and counselling and psychiatric appointments were done online. A huge step for the Deaf community that hopefully will remain an option long after the pandemic subsides.

I was able to attend a program called Riding the Waves which essentially covers all different types of emotions, negative and positive and teaches you how to put into action what you are learning. I took the program 4 times for a total of 2 years.

That program changed my life. It made me see things I needed to change in my life, it made me aware of things I hadn’t realized before.

I first dealt with my anger which has always been the most prevalent part of my mental health issues and once I learnt how to control it, I discovered there are hundreds of emotions and feelings beneath them that affected me every day.

One important thing I’ve learnt through this journey – it’s not a bad thing to ask for help related to mental health issues, no matter how large or small you may think they are.

Many people deal with anxiety or “good days and bad days” and think, well lots of people go through that. Very true, but just think how much better it would be if you have what we call a “toolbox” of things to help you deal with or possibly overcome these issues.

I’ve found that by building my toolbox, I’ve been able to handle things better. I used to roll my eyes when people would mention their toolbox. Now that I’ve been adding to move, I’ve become a better person. Someone who as an outsider, would want to spend time with me.

To be able to look at my life from an outsider’s view, I was able to say, “whoa, I wouldn’t want to work with that person.” Now that I’ve been putting into effect what I’ve learnt, I can say “yeah, I would work with that person.”

It doesn’t happen overnight, it’s hard work. But deciding to get the help, finding and fighting for accessible help has improved my life a hundredfold.