Story Drive in ’25: Share Your Story, Change a Life

Jan 1st, 2025

On January 1, 2025, we’re launching a bold and exciting initiative: Story Drive in ‘25. This year long campaign invites you—the people of Edmonton, and area—to share your real, raw, and honest experiences with mental health. Why? Because your story matters.

It doesn’t need to be a “success” story, because success has many definitions. What we are looking for is the heart of your journey—your experiences, your challenges, your lessons, and even your unanswered questions. Each story is a thread in the rich tapestry of our shared humanity, and every thread strengthens the fabric of a supportive and stigma-free community. We will share one story, every day, for 365 days. By doing so, we aim to create lasting impact by recognizing and highlighting these lived experiences.

Why Stories? Why Now?

In 2025, mental health remains one of the most significant challenges facing individuals and families worldwide. Stigma continues to silence those who need help the most, and misunderstanding fuels isolation. But a story has the power to change that. When you share your experiences, you not only help others feel less alone—you inspire, educate, and create conversations that ripple outward, building communities of empathy, understanding, and support.

What We’re Asking:

We’re on a quest to collect 100,000 stories by the end of this year. Whether it’s your experience of mental health challenges, the journey of supporting a loved one, or your role in creating a mental health friendly world, we want to hear it all. Your story doesn’t have to be polished. It doesn’t have to have a neat ending. Life is messy, and mental health journeys are often nonlinear. What matters is that it’s your story. As we build the infrastructure to collect stories in diverse ways—via phone recordings, email, videos, and more—we’re beginning by sharing our own.

Our Story: Mental Health in History

Mental health care has come a long way since 1918, the year the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) was born. Back then, concepts like “mental illness” were shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding:

• “Shell shock” (what we now understand as PTSD) was often seen as a sign of
  moral weakness.
• Mental illnesses were misinterpreted as everything from demonic possession to
  laziness.
• People experiencing severe mental health challenges were sent to asylums,
  subjected to inhumane treatments, and often confined for life.

Society didn’t know better. But it was the stories of real people—shared in whispers at first, then louder and louder—that began to change perceptions. Those stories, including the ones shared through CMHA, helped shape the mental health landscape we know today. While we’ve made great strides, we’re still learning. Stigma, misinformation, and systemic barriers persist. That’s why, in 2025, we’re asking you to join us in shining a bright light on the challenges and triumphs of mental health.

The Power of One Story

There’s an old saying: a pebble dropped in a pond sends ripples far beyond what the eye can see. I’m reminded of a story about a young seminary student who taught an immigrant from a tiny African village, to read and write English using the Bible. Years later, the now pastor was visiting Africa and was reminded of the man he once taught. He decided to visit the man’s remote village in Africa. To his amazement, the entire village spoke and read English, thanks to that one student’s efforts to teach others what he had learned. This story reminds us of the incredible power one action—or one story—can have. Your story might seem small to you, but its impact could change countless lives.

Together We Can Change the Narrative

By sharing your story, you help:

• End stigma around mental health and addictions.
• Encourage understanding by showing people who do not know, what it’s really
  like to live with mental health challenges.
• Inspire others who may be struggling to seek help.
• Foster community, creating a safer and more supportive environment for
  everyone.

What’s Next?

In the coming weeks, we’ll roll out ways for you to share your story—whether by phone, email, video, or even in person. We’re committed to making this process as easy and accessible as possible. Until then, stay tuned as we begin our journey by sharing the story of mental health itself: its history, its progress, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

We can’t do this alone. We need you.

Let’s create a future where mental health challenges are met with compassion, where stigma has no place, and where communities are built on understanding and support. Your story is the pebble. Let’s see how far the ripples can go.

Happy New Year, Edmonton. Let’s make 2025 a year of transformation, one story at a time.