The Unfiltered Squad
Welcome to the official page of the Unfiltered Squad!
The Unfiltered Squad was established in 2019. The involvement of our ambassadors has made a big difference right away, both on Instagram and through their participation in the many outreach projects held throughout the year. Jade B. participated in the CAP Model presentation during the Schizophrenia Days event. Joany made a video for World Bipolar Day, Madison made a video for Family Week and Jade G. offered a touching testimonial during Suicide Prevention Week.
In addition to actively participating in our annual awareness campaign, they share information on social media and create content including testimonials that we publish on our website. We are very lucky to be able to count on their commitment to making a difference.
We would like to introduce you to our CAP santé mentale ambassadors who are working to provide support for family members of people living with a mental illness. Six young women with six different paths, all determined to break taboos and raise awareness about the resources available across Quebec.
Meet Andrée-Anne, Cathy, Jade B., Jade G., Joany and Sandrine :
Andrée-Anne Gagné
Who am I?
I have been a special education teacher for 12 years and am Super Mom to two beautiful children aged 9 and 6 years old. Then, BAM! In 2018, a post traumatic stress issue came out of nowhere. It was an especially difficult ordeal to experience and to accept. It seemed impossible that it should happen to me! However, THIS new challenge has come to define the wonderful (and better) person I have become today for myself and in providing help for others.
At the time, I didn’t have any resources to help my partner cope with my special needs. Since we did not know about any available resources or CAP santé mentale, my partner had to overcome this difficult situation on his own! I would now like to share these resources with others so that they can get the help that we were not lucky enough to have.
What is most important to me? Happiness. But how do we find it? The human mind is complex, so we have to find ways to improve our well-being, manage stress and take care of ourselves! I enjoy helping others find their Zen and live one day at a time. There are thousands of ways to feel happiness and each person defines what this means for themselves. My mission is to show others some of the ways to feel good about themselves! When you take care of yourself, you take care of others!
Fun facts :
If you had a motto for your life, what would it be?
Live in the present, and take care of yourself so you can take care of others.
What are your interests?
Music, especially the piano, colours, animals, yoga, meditation, kayaking, photography and nature (especially the beach and the singing of birds).
Do you have a song you want to share with us?
“Don’t give Up on Me” by Andy Grammer
Cathy Martineau
Hello,
My name is Cathy Martineau. I am a clinical nurse at Info-santé and a master’s student in nursing sciences.
I decided to get involved as a CAP santé mentale ambassador because I grew up with a mother who was suffering from a serious mental health disorder and was not able to get the help she needed to recover.
For many years, my father and I were without recourse and we didn’t know what resources we had to help her with her mental illness.
My hope is that those accompanying a person with a serious mental health disorder will no longer have to experience this situation.
See you soon!
Fun facts :
If you had a motto for your life, what would it be?
You only live once
Which personality would you like to meet?
Marsha Linehan, a psychologist who pioneered the treatment of borderline personality disorder
Do you have a song you want to share with us?
“Demons” by Imagine Dragons
Jade Bayard
Hello everyone,
My name is Jade Bayard, and I am an influence ambassador for the CAP santé mentale Unfiltered Squad. I am currently a university student working on a bachelor’s degree in psychology. My mother is living with multiple mental health issues. Over time, I realized that being well equipped improves interpersonal relationships with our loved ones, especially when they are facing these kinds of challenges.
By getting involved, I hope to provide resources to the people around me and bring awareness to the importance of emotional support and validation for people who are struggling with mental health issues.
Now is the time to take care of our mental health, because it is so important! I’m glad I can make a difference, in my own way.
Fun facts :
If you had a motto for your life, what would it be?
If I had a motto in life, it would be based on a quote from actress and activist Sophia Bush: “You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously.”
Which personality would you like to meet?
The personality I would have liked to meet is Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was a great lady who fought for women’s rights. She inspires me a lot!
Do you have a song you want to share with us?
A song that I love and that always makes me feel calm is “Like Real People Do” by Hozier.
Jade Gauthier
To me, being part of the Unfiltered Squad means providing support and solidarity. It’s the hope offered by being part of the solution to helping our loved ones in their journey with mental illness. Because I know that not knowing what to do to help someone you love can be exhausting and discouraging.
A year ago, I didn’t know how to provide the necessary support or recognize the signs that could have saved my uncle so he could still be by my side. So, I want to make this information available to as many people as possible.
I suffer from mental illness myself, and my relatives don’t always know how to help me. I would like to be more open about my social anxiety, my anxiety and depressive disorders, the abuse of power that I experienced and my suicidal thoughts. This is important to me because I want to be open and honest about my life and on social media.
Later, I want to go into social work or criminology. The prison environment interests me a lot, and I also want to get involved in high schools.
The most rewarding thing for me is to be able to help others selflessly. I wanted to be part of the Unfiltered Squad so I can share my story and inspire others to seek help for their loved ones. By reaching out and seeking help, you are better able to help your loved one!
Fun facts :
If you had a motto for your life, what would it be?
Authenticity leads to great things. Don’t be afraid to just be you.
Which personality would you like to meet?
Jazz Thornton, a survivor of multiple suicide attempts and a great inspiration.
Do you have a song you want to share with us?
“Perfect” by Cole Norton
Joany Roussel
I graduated in secretarial studies in 2016 and am now an administrative assistant working in the garage for a transportation company. I’m the third of six children and the only girl. In everyday life, many things interest and soothe me, such as singing, music, painting and cooking. I am someone with a charismatic, persevering personality who listens to others and enjoys a challenge.
I decided to get involved in this cause, because I have experience with people who struggle with their mental health. I always felt so alone, living with someone who was not well. I thought there was no help was available, but it turns out I was wrong. I want to make a difference by sharing my story and my life experience so that others can realize that they aren’t alone.
I have made it my mission to make a difference, in my own way, in people’s lives by demystifying taboos about mental health by talking openly about them.
Fun facts :
If you had a motto for your life, what would it be?
Each person experiences life differently
Which personality would you like to meet?
Marc Dupré and Bruno Pelletier
Do you have a song you want to share with us?
“Save Me from Myself” by Christina Aguilera.
Sandrine Dubé
My name is Sandrine Dubé, and I am a bachelor’s student in psychology and newly appointed influence ambassador for CAP santé mentale. This role is important to me because it contributes to the fight against the stigma associated with mental illness. Asking for help shouldn’t be a sign of weakness. It should be a sign of strength and courage. Psychological distress can happen to anyone, so we shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it.
By getting involved, I hope to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of yourself. Learning how to listen to yourself, respect your boundaries and ask for help when needed is essential. Being an ambassador is also a great opportunity for me to share resources, both with those suffering from mental health problems as well as their loved ones. Together, let’s make things happen.
If you would like to join the Unfiltered Squad and help make a difference, contact us : [email protected]
“Testimonials” section
Nursing week | A message from Madison, former Unfiltered Squad ambassador
Madison works at a CLSC and is making a difference with families who play an important role in encouraging people with a mental health problem to seek help.
[French only]
Joany’s testimonial for World Bipolar Day
As the daughter of a mother diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she shares with us a prejudice that she has long suffered from: being associated with her mother’s illness. Prejudice aside, Joany highlights the importance of seeking help for oneself, without shame, when accompanying a person living with a mental illness.
Sylvain, my godfather who died by suicide on march 21, 2019
As part of Suicide Prevention Week 2021
Testimonial by Jade, a family member of a person living with mental illness
My godfather decided to leave this world on March 21, 2019. It was his choice, but I still have a hard time accepting it, even after all this time. Sometimes I’m angry. Angry that he left us. I’m angry that he isn’t here to see me live my life. I would have been proud to share my dreams with him. He would have been proud of me. I sometimes feel guilty too. Guilty for not having spotted the signs that might have allowed me to keep him alive. And sometimes I think that he is no longer in pain, so I am relieved. Relieved that he has finally found peace.
We had no idea that he wasn’t well. He lived alone and far away in the woods in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts. He committed suicide and we have no idea why. I don’t know anything. I didn’t even get to visit him in the hospital one last time.
I knew the signs, but he had never shown them or even raised his hand to ask for help. This is what makes me really sad. I felt powerless. The day before his fatal act, he wrote to people on Facebook asking if anyone could adopt his cats, without any details. He lived for his cats. He loved them more than anything in the world. Then to see these few words after his death, I was angry with the people who had gotten his message. If I had known, I would have called him, or I would have gone to his house to make sure that everything was okay.
As Flora mentioned in the podcast, I too “have experienced something I never thought I would experience!” An aching in my soul and a guilt-filled heart. I respect his choice, but I don’t agree with what he did at all. He was loved, but we didn’t tell him enough.
Why didn’t he send me a note, anything? I spend entire nights thinking about what I could have done to save him. There’s nothing I can do now. I feel a huge void. I went to get help the day after he died. I knew that I was going to sink into suicidal thoughts of my own and I didn’t want to put my family through another tragedy. It’s important to reach out and let people know when you’re not doing well. Being bereaved by the suicide of a loved one can be heavy at times. It can bring sadness that we are not able to manage on our own. There are organizations ready to welcome you to support you in your grief. They are there for you, and that is worth its weight in gold.
I understand that sometimes as a man in this society, it can be hard to express your feelings, to show your suffering and to talk about negative thoughts. It’s not just men, it’s women too. It’s so important to talk. This is also true for the relatives who support a person with a mental illness and those who are not doing well psychologically. Your loved ones adore you and, I swear to you, they would rather hear your problems than mourn your departure. I decided to speak up and take part in the discussion to highlight the importance of mental health. I want the stigma surrounding depression and suicide to end so that men and women can speak up without feeling weak or judged, because speaking up is a sign of strength and courage.
