'Just Another Mindful Monday' MentalWellness.help - A Virtual Support Group

Canada's Keynote Humorist

Hi there, I’m Judy Croon, Canada’s Keynote Humourist. Welcome to another episode of ‘Laugh Long and Prosper. Shelf help with a smile. It’s Monday which means it’s time for ‘Just Another Mindful Monday’. Mental health – this subject has come up over and over again when talking about mindfulness. Especially, while we’re coping with Covid. As a result, I wanted to continue dedicating a few shows to this urgent matter, as folks are having a really difficult time trying to get help. I wanted to continue talking to people in the community who can shed light on resources. Which is why I’m so excited to chat with my guest today, Jason Balgopal. Jason Balgopal is a lawyer by day and community volunteer by night. He graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, and was called to the Bar in 1999. His day job has allowed him to appear in all levels of courts in Ontario, and he has conducted all manner of trials including murder trials. Being a perfectionist by nature in an imperfect world was one catalyst which started his downward slide into depression in the early 2000’s. By 2004, he was officially diagnosed with depression, and commenced a 10-year path through darkness. With the help of a psychiatrist, a therapist, some medication, friends, family and his supportive wife, by 2014, he was able to get into a better “head space”. During this time, he found that volunteering gave him an opportunity to develop skills and interests outside of his day job. During this time, he found that volunteering gave him an opportunity to develop skills and interests outside of his day job. Since 2008, many evenings have been spent as a leader on the Board of Directors of numerous not-for-profit and community organizations. The skills of leadership which he gained on those Boards, combined with a desire to give back to the community, drove him in 2015, to create the Mental Wellness Peer Support Groups. Currently, after work, he spends most evenings ensuring that the 6 weekly Peer Support Groups are successful, and finding ways to grow and promote these free and confidential groups to a wider audience. The format is one hour long. Each person may (but doesn’t have to) share how their mental wellness is affecting them. They can then get “feedback” from another member (which is empathy or a technique which has worked for that other member…none of us will tell someone what they “should” do…as none of us is a professional). The groups have been very popular as they offer three significant benefits: 1. Members learn that they are not alone, and that there are others like them suffering; 2. Members can unburden themselves to a sympathetic ear…rather than continue to over-burden their spouse or parents who don’t have the lived-history to help; 3. Members can get real-world suggestions of techniques which others have used successfully. Here are some important links: 1. Our website: www.MentalWellness.help and 2. Our FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/MentalWellness.help/ and, 3. The link to our virtual video conferencing meetings, at which people can sign up (for FREE...all the meetings we offer are for free), at MeetUp ( https://www.meetup.com/Mental-Wellness-Peer-to-Peer-Support-Groups/ ) 4. A video explaining our groups: https://youtu.be/8rM7Y47KuVc - Again, here is the group http://www.MentalWellness.help if you want to speak to a group within 24 hours. Just remember that you are not alone. As stated in previous shows on mental health, you can also reach out to the following sources: http://www.CAMH.ca -Canada Suicide Prevention Helpline at www.CrisisServicesCanada.ca or call 1-833-456-4566. -Text the crisis line via SMS 686868. -Wellness Together Canada at http://www.ca.portal.gs -Finally, f you are in crisis now, you can call 911. For further info, you can reach me at http://www.JudyCroon.com