Marianne Raad
Honours Social Science
Conferences
Chum Conference
During Suicide Prevention Week, CHUM organized a series of conferences aimed at raising awareness about this critical issue. I attended one titled "Youth Psychosis and Suicide: Opening Dialogues for Prevention," which was exceptionally enlightening.
The conference started with the screening of an impactful short film, "Ainsi va la vie(tesse)," produced by Susanne Serres and Veronika Leclerc. The film compellingly portrayed the daily life of a teenager with psychosis, highlighting the profound slowdown mental health struggles can impose on one's life. The portrayal of the young girl's suffering resonated across her academic, relational, and personal spheres, leading her to abandon even her cherished sport of swimming due to her mental state. The emotional portrayal really touched the audience and got them connected to the main character.
Subsequent to the screening, two young women who had faced severe psychosis, along with their close friends and family, shared their personal stories. Their accounts were emotionally resonant, shedding light on the challenges they overcame. One participant bravely expressed the difficulty of others comprehending the altered rhythm of life that comes with mental health struggles. This insight underscored the significant impact on daily activities, even making the simple act of waking up seem insurmountable. Their vulnerability in front of the audience was truly touching, emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health in today's world.
Mental health is a subject that I find very important and almost inevitable to address in today’s world and this conference made me realize how much people struggle with it and sometimes don’t make it… Overall, it was a very enriching conference, and I learned a lot from it!
