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A Steinbach woman has turned her desperate search for help during a family mental health crisis into an opportunity for education and healing.
Marisol Pulido found the awareness and programming foundation Sashbear after visiting family in the hospital.
She is now co-ordinating Manitoba’s Sashbear Walk with the Steinbach Arts Council on May 23.
The walk is one of several happening across Canada. The annual walks “create a sea of orange in support of those with emotion dysregulation,” the Sashbear Foundation’s website says.
“I found a really wonderful community with really wonderful programs that walk us through many skills that help us navigate through some tough times,” Pulido said.
A former dance teacher, she now uses painting as a way to help with her mental health.
Experiencing the benefit of self-expression in healing, Pulido has teamed up with the arts council this year.
Steinbach Arts Council executive director David Klassen tours the building’s gallery with Sashbear co-ordinator Marisol Pulido and her daughter Juana Pulido. (Christopher Gareau/CBC)
The council has been working with Southern Health and other organizations to plan future art and music therapy.
Steinbach Arts Council executive director David Klassen believes there needs to be more of a preventative focus on mental well-being.
“We have the opportunity with young people to get ahead. I think to introduce these practices early on is an extremely wise thing for us to do in society,” he said.
The annual Sashbear Walk events ‘create a sea of orange in support of those with emotion dysregulation.’ (Marisol Pulido)
That is why he jumped at the chance to partner with Pulido and the Sashbear Walk, Klassen said.
“The healing role of arts and the regulation, and all of the benefits that exist there — I think it’s important for us to understand that it is there,” he said.
Music and visual art will be included before the walk, starting at 9:45 a.m. outside the Steinbach Arts Council’s building.
Pulido was asked by Sashbear to lead the province’s walk for the first time last year.
Steinbach is the smallest host community in Canada this year, at about 20,000 people, with the second-smallest being Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital, St John’s. That city has a population of 110,000.
Pulido said she hopes her effort results in more people talking about mental health and how to find help before experiencing a crisis like her family did.
“You don’t need to wait to be struggling with anything to educate yourself on mental health,” she said.
WATCH | Sashbear walk coming up in Steinbach:
Southeast Manitoba woman turns family mental health crisis into education and healing
A Steinbach woman is hosting Manitoba’s Sashbear Walk May 23rd after a desperate search during a family mental health crisis led her to the foundation. Steinbach Arts Council is joining the walk as it looks to offer art and music therapy with Southern Health.