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Karen Liberman with Eric Tripp, Vice Chair, Equity Division, BMO Nesbitt Burns representing BMO Financial Group. |
Toronto, Ontario
Woman emerges from 10-year struggle with major clinical depression, becomes powerful advocate for the mentally ill
As a child growing up, Karen Liberman lived a fairy tale, middle-class existence like everyone else in the neighbourhood. Or so she thought. It wasn't until her teenage years that she became aware that, behind the closed doors of her home, lived the secret of mental illness. Karen's mother was manic-depressive and it was a shameful secret that was not to be discussed in the home or in public. Karen says that the general stereotype she encountered is that "you couldn't be from the kind of family affected by mental illness." There were no apparent social or genetic risk factors.
Karen became an accomplished and successful person in every area of her life. Nothing however, could have prepared her for the shock that began when she turned 40. Karen became desperately ill with the beginning of what would become a ten-year battle with major clinical depression. In what Karen describes as her lost decade, she was in and out of countless psychiatric wards, trying over 27 different medications, experiencing 24 electro-convulsive treatment sessions, and ultimately making significant life changes in order to fight the demon of depression. Karen did not have any cataclysmic experiences that prompted her depression, but feels she began to fade away to the point where she believed that everyone around her would be better off if she were dead. For family and friends, it was difficult to believe that this successful, accomplished woman who seemed so "together" could be so desperately sick.
As Karen began her journey out of the depths of her illness, she began speaking about her experiences as a way to reach out to those around her: friends, family, co-workers and community. Once, at a dinner party, she spoke of some of the experiences she had in the hospital and was told by her then husband not to "air her dirty laundry" in public. It was at this time that Karen was determined that she was not going to be anyone's dirty laundry. This was the beginning of her advocacy on behalf of the mentally ill and in turn, part of her recovery has come in the form of talking about her illness.
Five years ago, Karen made a speech in a small room at a local library. Today, she speaks to both large and small groups of consumers and family members, professionals, volunteers and anyone interested in learning more about the issues. Karen is now the Executive Director of the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario. She continues to reach out to people and offer support and information and she recently appeared on the CTV documentary Fighting the Dragon.
Today, Karen's family and friends are not surprised to see the progress she has made. They are no longer afraid. They know that Karen has found ways to get well and to stay well and that she believes in the importance of disclosure and breaking down the stigma of mental illness.
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This page was last modified on February 5, 2003 9:31 AM .
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