Adventure-based therapy pushes young adults to tackle mental illness
CBC Montreal is teaming up with West Island Community Shares that supports activities like Adventure Group
Carlo D'Apollonia hikes up Mount Royal with a group of about a dozen other young adults when he pauses to soakin the view.
Looking out at the city, the 20-year-oldsucks in a full lung of the brisk fall air and reflects on how far he's come.
"It's very rewarding, you feel liberated in many ways," he says. "Just this hike gets me thinking about how great it is to take a break, relax and enjoy the world around you."
Only 18 months agoD'Apollonia, who says he has dealt with mental illness and two psychotic episodes, didn't have such a positive outlook on beingoutdoors and being active.
But the Adventure Group changed that.
Living the therapy
D'Apollonia is one of dozens of young adults battling mental illness aged between 18 and 35 who participate in the Adventure Group.
It's a program hosted by the Centre Bienvenue in Pierrefonds, run by director Elodie Bruton.
The organization is one of 40 non-profit agenciessupported by West Island Community Shares, thebeneficiaryof this year'sCBC Montreal Christmas Sing-In charity drive.
It's designed, Bruton says, to challenge its participants to get out of their comfort zone and into nature.
"A lot of people that come here, they don't get out very much. They stay in their house, they're playing video games, they're watching TV they're not moving, says Bruton. "They're not putting themselves into action."
Participants of the Adventure Group suffer from a wide scope of mental health issuesincluding, but not exclusive to: schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and autism. The Adventure Group organizesoutdoor activities which range from one day excursions to week-long camping trips.
During the outings, participants are encouraged to set personal goals such as socialization, tackling fears and conqueringfeats of physical prowess.
"Their dreams are being shattered by the mental illness, and part of coming here and challenging yourself is seeing that you're capable of something getting this feeling of being capable of overcoming," Bruton says.
The activities are not all as tame as a hike up Mount Royal on a chilly fall day in November. Recent outings have included zip lining, kayak trips, winter camping in sub-zero temperatures and rappelling down cliffs.
"We're living the therapy. Rather than sitting and saying we have strengths or I am capable of doing stuff in my life we are living it. Because the experience is lived, it's so much more powerful and much more ingrained into your memory," explainsBruton.
"You remember things that you've lived much more than things that you've said."
Support and friendships
The Adventure Group is only in its second year of operation but already it's changing lives.
D'Apolloniasays each outing has revealed something new about himself and his abilities
"It begins opening doors for you," he says. "There's the idea that if you have a mental illness there arecertain things you can't do but with support like this, you're able to feel a lot more confident in your abilities."
D'Apollonia says taking the first step to show up and participate was the hardest part because he wasn't sure what to expect.
But now that he's involved,he says he'd recommend the Adventure Group to anyone who is struggling with mental illness.
He believes it's changed his outlook on life and he's made a whole new group of friends.
"Living life to the fullest I think is a big part about being human, taking from life all that you can," he says.
"It's worth it. Definitely worth it."
_(720p).jpg)
 OFFICIAL HD MUSIC VIDEO.jpg)
.jpg)
