Sea-to-Sky clinician organizes bike ride to break the stigma of mental health
Danielle Berman’s eyes were opened early to mental health and mental illness. Her father, a respected Ontario physician and loving father, died by suicide in 1999 just as Danielle was getting ready to enter Grade 8.
Following his death, Danielle, now a concurrent disorder clinician in Whistler, spiralled into a long and deep depression, but with the support of a friend, her mother, therapy and finding the right medication, the jaws of the black dogs loosened their grip. She eventually weaned herself off medication entirely.
“Nobody should ever suffer behind closed doors for fear of judgment, humiliation or damage to reputation,” says Danielle.
She’s now made it her mission to remove the stigma associated with mental illness. She’s not only trying to accomplish this goal through her professional work, but also by organizing a bike ride.
Danielle is launching what she hopes will be an annual Squamish cycling event to raise awareness of mental illness called Ride Away Stigma – Sea to Sky. The cruiser friendly and group mountain bike ride is Sept. 18 at the Nordic Legacy Park from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Cross-country cycle in honour of dad
But this isn’t Danielle’s first Ride Away Stigma event.
In 2014, Danielle cycled from Vancouver to Hamilton, Ont. in honour of her dad and was amazed by the outpouring of support not just to help her as an individual but for the wider community.
“It demonstrated how people want to join as a community of support to work towards making a change,” she wrote on her website rideawaystigma.com.
Danielle, who came west in December 2014 for the mountains and to work in a small community, wants to foster and build on the energy of her inaugural ride two years ago, but admits to being a little nervous launching the Squamish event.
“I’m fairly new in town and have all my family and friends back home in Ontario. But I have gained a lot of support and encouragement and I work with a great team,” she says. “It has definitely helped me push through the different hurdles that have come up and will come up from planning events like these.”
Ride planning going well
Thanks to a team of event organizers, the ride planning is going well, says Danielle.
“We have been hearing a lot of positive feedback and people looking forward to being a part of the event,” says Danielle. “I think for a lot of people it is a special way to honour someone they have lost or has had struggles.”
Over the years Danielle has seen people’s attitude towards mental illness start to change, but there’s still work to be done.
“I think a lot of people still don’t know how to react and become scared. They worry about saying the wrong thing therefore they don’t say anything at all. With more education and awareness I think this will continue to change and we can learn how to be more supportive and open.”
Visit www.rideawaystigmas2s.com for more information.
Danielle Berman speaks at the inaugural Ride Away Stigma event in Hamilton, Ontario in 2014.