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>> KATHY: For me, I felt like, depression is something where you feel very alone living with because you never really know who has it or who you'll feel comfortable sharing it with. Depression is basically hidden. You can't really see it, it's not like a broken bone. It's not visible to the world.
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>> DAVID: You came to the ARCS program from a referral from North York General. Can you tell us a bit about what was happening in your life previous to that?
>> KATHY: I was a student at York University. I was also working part-time. Through that, I felt like I was facing some difficulties in life. I thought that there was something wrong with me. I had suicidal thoughts here and there for a couple of years. And then I was admitted into the hospital. They booked me into a few appointments. The hospital said it would be a couple of months.
>> DAVID: Yes, at least.
>> KATHY: But there is an option for the ARCS program. They said that I would be assigned a case manager and they will contact me within forty-eight hours.
>> DAVID: We're part of a group of agencies and two hospitals that are a partnership called ARCS: Access to Resources and Community Supports. We work in a client-directed way, so we'll try and ascertain what the person wants in their life. And how we can collaborate with them to try and achieve some of their goals.
>> KATHY: I must say, it wasn't just a one time thing where I was able to just get out of it the first time. I still lived through that social stigma that 'you are crazy.' 'You don't belong in this world.' That 'You are not normal.' And I also fear that if I were to express myself, people might reject me for who I am.
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>> KATHY: Once I was admitted into the hospital, I finally realized that depression goes beyond what meets the eye. It's definitely not just you being sad. It's not you being crazy either. I think it has to do with a lot of trauma, past experiences. If you are not able to express it, then it's very hard for someone to even learn about it and accept themself.
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>> KATHY: Through that I was able to really see other people with depression or mental health issues and that's when I really understood depression. For someone to say, we're not 'normal.' I'd like to ask you, what is normal? Because what is normal to you, may not be normal for someone else. Through ARCS, and through my whole experience this year, I definitely felt like I was able to learn and grow. Really understand who I am. To the point I am today, I can finally say that I do love myself.
>> DAVID: So she's worked really hard to get to where she is at. And I think she's come to a point of self-acceptance, that she said earlier I've come to the point where I can say I honestly love myself.
>> KATHY: Even though I?ve been rejected so many times, I believe there is help, there is good in this world. There is hope for you. If I had continued to believe that there wasn?t hope, I may not have been on this planet anymore. I've made multiple attempts to suicide. Really tried to take away my life. And now that I am able to find that hope and sit with myself and finally say I love myself for who I am today it really has changed me. Really changing who I am today.
>> DAVID: When a person heals themself, it heals the generation that comes after as well. It ripples. 
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>> DAIVD: I think our program helps a lot of folks to quickly and effectively begin building the life they want. Because their life belongs to them, and the life that they want is what we need to be working on. And I think that our whole team is good at focusing on people's needs as they state them, and trying to support them in creating the life that they want to live.
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