Support Mental Health Awareness By Dancing

Photo Credit: CMHA Kelowna

The Canadian Mental Health Association has launched a contest with the focus on Mental Health Awareness.

Dance Like Nobody’s Watching encourages people to take a video of themselves dancing for at least 30 seconds and post it to social media. With one in five people experiencing mental illness in their lifetime the balance between mental health and mental illness can strike anyone.

“I would be the first to admit I have lots of interesting ideas,” said Scott Davis Communications Director of CMHA Kelowna branch, “but when I received an e-mail from Claire Barron I thought this idea is totally whacky, and I love it and it’s going to be a whole lot of fun, I am in 100 per cent support.”

Claire Barron,(Guelph, Ontario) writes:

When I make my Bear Boards (a kitchen cutting board made from beautiful grained wood), I put on my iPod and dance. You should know that each board is made with joy in my heart. For those of us who are happy, we may often find ourselves dancing in the kitchen, in the car or sometimes even in public. We move because the music makes us happy. My daughter tells me it just makes her embarrassed and I should keep my ‘Dance of Joy’ hidden in privacy.

For many, however, it is hard to dance with joy, as they feel little joy in their lives. I have had friends and family members struggle with depression and mental illness. For them, it is harder for the music to move them. We are fortunate for the many organizations around the world that help people with mental illness.

So I have decided to not hide my ‘Dance of Joy’ but share it with the world .I want to encourage the world to “Dance Like Nobody’s Watching” and share their own ‘Dance of Joy’ with friends, family and acquaintances, help to end stigma and bring awareness to those struggling between the balance of mental health and mental illness.

It was Barron’s story that has launched the idea for the contest and it encourages people to share their inner joy. Prizes will be awarded to the person or group that presents the happiest or joyful dance and they will be handmade Bear Boards.

For full contest information and details click here.