Squamish’s Amanda Schell recognized nationally for her resilient spirit

Amanda Schell has a story to tell, and it’s one of overcoming huge personal challenges and speaks to her resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks. It’s Amanda’s story, and her willingness to share it as a way of inspiring others, that’s the impetus behind her being awarded the PsychoSocial Rehabilitation Association of Canada’s Resiliency Award  at their Building on Hope National Conference recently in Vancouver.

While Amanda now works as a Mental Health Outreach Worker and as the Consumer Initiatives Support Worker for Sea to Sky Mental Health & Addiction Services in Squamish, it’s been a long, difficult journey for her to get to where she is today.

Amanda began experiencing signs of mental illness as far back as grade 2, where she remembers having her first hallucination. At 12, her hallucinations increased and by the age of 16 she ran away from home and began using drugs and alcohol. At 18, she married her husband and they gained custody of his first child.

Amanda quit drinking and using drugs but the hallucinations continued, and she was eventually hospitalized and started on antipsychotic medication. Amanda was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 23 and told that she would never work again. She didn’t believe them and it took her years to “accept” her diagnosis.

Over the years, has Amanda become an active volunteer, advocate and event organizer, confirming her belief that she could recover and help others through the valuable knowledge she’s gained over the years.

Amanda has volunteered countless hours on the Advisory committee and at the local clubhouse and she has also sat on regional and provincial consumer advisory committees.

In 2002, Amanda lost her oldest son, her step-son John. After a year of grieving and surviving the loss she enrolled in Capilano University to complete high school. She began working as a Peer Support Worker, and worked with the Vocational Rehab worker to help structure the peer support program in Squamish.

In 2006, Amanda was hired by VCH as the Consumer Initiatives Support Worker in Squamish, a role that had been filled by mental health workers until that time.

Amanda’s middle son has been diagnosed with psychotic depression, and is doing well thanks in part to the support that he receives from Amanda and her intimate knowledge of her own lived experience with psychosis.

On presenting Amanda with the PSR Canada Resiliency Award, the conference organizers note: “Amanda not only came through these experiences but she shone every step of the way demonstrating the depth of resilience and strengths she holds within. Her passion and concern for her peers is evident in the work she does and the vision she has for the mental health community of Squamish. She is a woman on a mission making a difference with every step she takes and every heart she touches.”

On behalf of Sea to Sky Mental Health & Addiction Services and the community of Squamish, I wish to extend my sincere thanks to Amanda for all of her hard work and the difference that she makes in the lives of so many every single day.