Rebecca Difilippo, Publisher
When did you launched moods Magazine and what was the response at the
time and present?
Moods was launched Oct 1, 2003 and the response was extremely positive. Many people who found the magazine in their doctor’s office or at Chapters/Indigo called to inquire about subscribing.
Do you feel there appears to be more “acceptance of mental illness”?
I believe that with all the media coverage about mental health over the past 5 years or so, people are more aware of the mental illness and a little bit more knowledgeable. However, many people I speak with are still concerned about the stigma attached to mental illness.
Any insights on why?
Mental Illness has been a taboo topic for so many years as it is so misunderstood. Lack of knowledge is one of the greatest causes of fear (fear of anything) and there is still a huge fear about mental illness. Many people are misinformed, not only about what mental illness is, but also what the causes, symptoms and treatments are.
All too often, media sensationalizes horrific crimes involving mental illness and this emphasis often leads people to believe that all people with mental illness are violent and dangerous. This however is far from the truth. Most people living with mental illness are non violent and often live fairly normal lives.
Do you feel celebrities coming out of the closet has changed the face
of mental illness?
Yes, most definitely! When celebrities, people who are successful and extremely respected, speak out then, others listen and learn from their stories.
What is your story and why are you passionate about the magazine.
About 15 years ago I knew nothing about depression. I thought the word depression simply meant that you were sad. I didn’t know it was an illness. I got depressed slowly over a seven year period after my husband had a fall leaving him with a serious head injury causing memory loss, a personality change, seizures, loss of hearing in one ear and leaving him legally blind. He had grand mal seizures, two heart attacks, a quadruple bypass, cancer (lymphoma), kidney failure and battled many other illnesses. He finally passed away in 2001, a time when I was also running a business with about 17 employees and taking care of our 12-year old daughter. Throughout this entire time I did not recognize the symptoms and behaviours of depression, so I did not seek help. When my husband passed away I crashed. I became so ill that I let my business go and I attended the hospital as an outpatient for almost 11 months. I filed for personal bankruptcy and experienced so many unnecessary losses. If only I had known what depression was, I could have sought help in the early stages. But I didn’t. So, in an effort to assist others through education and preventative measures, I founded Moods magazine.
It is noted on your site that in that 70% of people living with mental
illness are in the workforce.
Can you comment on whether there is enough being done in terms of
education and employer support to facilitate recovery and successful
rtw?
There is still much work to be done in the workplace regarding mental illness at work. Many workplaces are making great efforts to educate their management and staff about mental health and many are providing tools and resources to their staff. Many organizations are still without the knowledge they require to help prevent or deal with mental health conditions. Return-to-work programs should be discussed with an employees’s support team, which may consist of the individual’s doctor/specialist, therapist, spouse and HR representative or manager. It may be different for each situation. The more support and understanding there is, the better the chances of a successful return-to-work.
Do you feel employees need to disclose or be open about their condition?
I believe that if an employee has a good relationship with their manager or HR staff and their workplace supports mental illness, then disclosure can be very beneficial. An organization cannot assist if they are not aware of special needs. Some organizations are still not equipped to deal with mental health concerns. It depends a great deal on the organization, as well as the individual’s comfort level.
Do you feel that focusing on restrictions and limitations is the best
way to approach rtw?
I believe the focus should be on what can be accomplished; a person’s strengths and capabilities as opposed to their limitations — that one should always emphasize and work with the positive.
What are the most significant changes you have witnessed in mental health today?
Although there is still a great stigma attached to mental illness, more people than ever are aware of it to some degree even if they are not fully educated. More celebrities are speaking out about their experiences in an effort to bring hope to those in need. I think many more people are able to accept someone who has gone through mental illness, however there is still much work to be done.
What is the best advice you can give to someone who has mental illness?
Seek help! The sooner one is diagnosed, the sooner the recovery process can start. Early detection and treatment is the key to full recovery.
Speak to your family doctor and speak to family members and friends you can trust and who will be positive and supportive towards you. Be positive as much as you can and know that there will always be a better day. Never give up hope! If the treatment you are following does not work, try, try again. Every person’s makeup/chemistry is different and each illness is different. What works for one person will not necessarily work for another. Researchers have made great headway with medications and talk therapy. I strongly recommend a combination of both medication and talk therapy if one’s illness is severe. Sometimes talk therapy alone is all that is needed though. Sometimes removing triggers from one’s life, reducing stress and living a more healthier lifestyle is all it takes. Eating good nutritious food regularly each day and getting enough sleep is also very important. A combination of all of the above are important.
What is the best advice you can give to a relative or parent who is
struggling with a close relative who has been diagnosed?
Listen. Validate! Even if you don’t understand what your loved one is going through, they need to know that you are there to support them and want to help. Just listen and be there for them. Validate what they are struggling with and feeling even if you don’t understand!
What are the biggest challenges for mental illness in this decade?
I personally feel that our society today encourages a multi-tasking, busy, stressful lifestyle that is not very healthy. Too many people do not have time to share a happy and fulfilling life with family and friends because of the demands from work and impossible expectations of society in general — the unending connections to work and friends. We all need to simplify our lives a bit and recognize that fulfillment can be found in some of the more simple things.
We are also lacking enough professional support, especially talk therapists who are covered by government. We need more immediate support available to people before crisis sets in–especially with more and more people working and living longer. Prevention needs to be emphasized and programs implemented to assist people in the early stages.
Read Rebecca’s Story 2012