Ottawa Book Signing to Support Mental Health

OTTAWA, Ontario - Jan. 21, 2019 - PRLog -- Although January 30 is Bell Let's Talk Day, one independent publisher is working to keep the conversation going long after the day is over.

Wintertickle Press is blowing open the door on mental health stigma with their newest anthology, Brainstorm Revolution and will be showcasing a few of its authors in the nation's capital. Local authors Stephane Grenier and Julie Jolicoeur, along with a few visiting from the GTA, will be signing books at Chapters South Keys from 11-4 on January 26, 2019.

The book, brainchild of Courtney Taylor, Natalie Harris, and Heather Down, is a collection of powerful and creative first-person true stories that allow a glimpse into the life of those who suffer from mental health challenges and into the minds of those who strive for mental wellness. The universal themes of love, loss, and triumph make this a fascinating read for anybody.

Ottawa resident Julie Jolicoeur wrote about her service dog, a placid golden retriever named Dillon, and how he has affected her life. The traumas of paramedicine took their toll on Jolicoeur and she developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Making the decision to get a service dog was tough for her. She didn't want to face the potential stigma of having her condition made so public. However, she finally took the plunge. "But eventually, being a prisoner in my own house was less appealing than letting the world know my contidion, so I applied for a service dog," Jolicoeur writes.

Other local author Stephane Grenier is a decorated veteran, having served in Rwanda, Afghanistan and Haiti. He is known for coining the term "Operational Stress Injury" and was just accepted as a member to the Order of Canada in 2018. He is the founder of Mental Health Innovations, a company dedicated to helping work places support their employees through peer support. His contribution to the book Brainstorm Revolution talks about how we can constantly try to do better in the field of workplace mental health support. Stephane Grenier is also the author of After the War: Surviving PTSD and Changing Mental Health Culture. Both titles will be available for singing on January 26.

There are just under 40 contributors to this work, including people from a wide variety of ages and occupations—from city councillors to veterans to TEDx presenters to high school students to recipients of the Order of Canada, to CMHA Difference Makers to Bell Let's Talk Ambassadors. Micheal Landsberg, former host of TSN's Off the Record and founder of Sick Not Weak; Deb McGrath, comedian and actor; and Stephane Grenier, mental health advocate and author of After the War: Surviving PTSD and Changing Mental Health Culture have also graciously given their stories to this unprecedented project.

The book is divided into three chapters: Love, Evolution, and Revolution. Love features stories of acceptance and kindness. Evolution is a chapter about personal turning points and shifts of perspective. Revolution shares stories of change-makers who influence our society as a whole. All of these short, slice-of-life stories hit on a wide variety of topics including: anxiety, depression, kindness, acceptance, bipolar disorder, transgender, psychotic breaks, self-care, suicide, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, autism, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief, fear of abandonment, service dogs, coping strategies, change in legislation, fundraising, equine assisted learning, LGBTQ, postpartum depression, trauma, and war.

Although these topics may seem heavy, the book focusses on positive change and growth, leaving the reader with a strong sense of optimism and hope. Professional writer Teresa Hedley reiterates this point when she says, "I felt two things I didn't know I could feel at the same time—weighted and buoyed. The collection takes you in both directions. And in the end, I felt changed, enlightened. Like I had walked in naive and come out of it wiser and inspired."

Retired Corporal Matthew Heneghan, a former medic in the Canadian Armed Forces, talks about Brainstorm Revolution in his podcast A Medic's Mind, "When you are reading someone's story, it's not like you are reading someone's story. It is as though they are sitting down with you, telling you their story, telling you their experiences. That's a rare read when you can pick up a book and have the book read itself to you."

To celebrate the publication, Wintertickle Press is currently scheduling Ontario book signings. The list is quickly expanding, so please check Wintertickle Press on social media for the most up-to-date information. Currently, January bookings are as follows:

January 26, 2019 Chapters South Keys, Ottawa 11-4 pm
March 2, 2019 Chapters Eglinton/Yonge St. Toronto, 12-4 pm

March 3, 2019 Chapters Oshawa, 12-4 pm

The book is currently available through Indigo, Amazon, and select independent bookstores.

Title: Brainstorm Revolution: True Mental Health Stories of Love, Personal Evolution, and Cultural Revolution
Authors: Heather Down, Natalie Harris, Courtney Taylor et. al.
Publisher: Wintertickle Press
Format/Trim Size: Softcover 6 x 9 inches
ISBN: 978-1-894813-95-2
Price: $25.95

https://www.amazon.ca/Brainstorm-Revolution-personal-evol... (https://www.amazon.ca/Brainstorm-Revolution-personal-evol...)

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/brainstorm-rev... (https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/brainstorm-rev...)