Speaker Reviews
Life is Worth Living virtual presentation
Jenna Neufeld, Mental Health Worker
Canadian Mental Health Association, Saskatoon Branch
One of the first things I felt while watching this film was the spirit of Brianne. I could feel it in the story, and in the words of her sisters as they work tirelessly to decrease the stigma around suicide. As a mental health worker, but also as a human, I connect with this message wholeheartedly. The Kennedy sisters do an amazing job of not speaking to one person, but speaking to all of us in our darkest times. I believe that this conversation will spark hundreds of other conversations that will save more than one person’s life.
As a mental health worker with CMHA Saskatoon, LIWL has done multiple presentations to youth we are working with in the school system, and every time I am blown away by the profoundness and sensitivity of their message. This message comes from the heart, and this film captures everything their presentation does but on a much broader level. It speaks to all ages, and all people. The workbook that goes along with the presentation encompasses much of the deep work and practice that must be done around suicide prevention. But the most important piece that I can see, is that this makes it okay to talk about, and not only normalizes the conversation, but gives each person a chance to reach out to someone else and be a light in the dark for someone else.
Life is Worth Living live presentation
Lorrie Anne Harkness, Superintendent of Education
Prairie Valley School Division
Powerful. If I was limited to one word about your presentation that would be it. This is my 24th year in education and as a teacher and psychologist I have been to many mental health presentations for students and schools. Yours was the most impactful. Today you managed to keep almost six hundred middle years students absolutely quiet for ninety minutes. That doesn’t happen very often. Thank you for sharing your story with us and in extension Brianne’s story. Your presentation was everything we wanted—indeed, everything we needed. We will continue to follow up with our students as we travel together in our mental health journey. Brianne’s story, your story, your sharing of resources, your urging to be brave, be courageous, to speak up, and to love ourselves will help us do that.
You are welcome back with us anytime—although we will keep your words with us until you return.
Jenna Neufeld, Mental Health Worker
Canadian Mental Health Association, Saskatoon Branch
I recently had the opportunity to see Callie from Life is Worth Living present to two grade 12 classes as part of a wellness and mental health education component in an inner city high school in Saskatoon. The Life is Worth Living presentation absolutely blew me away. Callie spoke with such grace and confidence about an incredibly difficult subject, both for herself and societal norms. The impact of this presentation could be felt throughout the entire classroom. In a grade twelve class that is usually full of noise and energized students wanting to be done school for the day, the room was completely silent. The students were completely engaged in what Callie had to say. I spoke with a teacher afterwards who praised Callie for being able to speak about such a difficult and scary subject, without making it scary for the students. Life is Worth Living is an amazing organization who is doing everything they can to reduce the stigma associated with suicide and mental health. We would love to have Life is Worth Living present again someday.
Erin Pincemin, Educator
Kindersley Composite School
“Life is Worth Living”. It seems to be such a simple statement and yet, it is packed with complexity beyond imagination. For three Kindersley hometown sisters, this statement-turned-awareness campaign has taken on a life of its own. What started as a ninth grade health assignment twelve years ago for Jaclyn and Callie Kennedy has grown into the focus of their presentation entitled “Life is Worth Living”. Along with younger sister, Shalyn, the sisters present to schools and communities on the topic of suicide awareness and mental health. The sisters presented at Kindersley Composite School in June of 2017. Our area has had numerous suicides over the last few years and the sisters recognized a need for the presentation and the awareness that it brings. The sisters talk about their personal range of emotions through their own experience of having lost their sister, Brianne, to suicide in 2004. Their goal is to bring awareness and shed light on the complex nature of depression, while also sending the message that it is not only okay to talk about mental health, but that it is in fact, necessary. What I got out of the presentation is that we must do all that we can to destigmatize the stereotype that depression should be kept to oneself. They mention that, like any other illness that cannot be controlled by “mind over matter”, we must bring the illness of depression out in the open and address it. They compared it to cancer, in that no one would think twice about getting help for it and therefore, mental illness should be treated the same way. A major part of the presentation focuses on not being afraid to reach out for help and that if a person is experiencing depression and/or suicidal thoughts, that you are never alone. There are people willing to listen and help.
As an educator, I found this presentation to be imperative in bringing awareness to both students and staff surrounding mental health. I like the honest and straightforward way that the sisters deliver their message. The presentation is carried out with the perfect blend of fact-based research and personal experience. It is the personal aspect which makes it so impactful on the audience. These girls know what they are talking about, and present it in such a way that you know they are passionate about helping others find their way to the light on the other side of depression. Their message is one of both hope as well as empathy. It is my recommendation that every school should have the advantage of seeing this presentation on such an important and necessary topic. There are so many students struggling with mental health issues and this presentation could very likely be a huge difference-maker to them, as well as bringing awareness to peers, friends, and staff members. It could even be the talk that helps save lives… after all, Life is Worth Living. And in my opinion, this presentation is worth experiencing.
Shelly Cal, Nurse Practitioner
Hudson Bay Provider Team
The girls were wonderful in all aspects: mature, respectful, kind, and knowledgeable about the most important subjects of mental health, mental illness, depression, and suicide. Our small community of Hudson Bay welcomed them with open arms and we were certainly not disappointed as they put on a wonderful presentation dealing with a very difficult topic.
They covered important issues such as education and knowledge required to work through mental health, mental illness, and suicidal feelings. Their presentation covered something for everyone from youth to elderly. They spoke from the heart about their families tragic loss of losing their sister to suicide. They used this awareness as a way of healing and helping other families to cope, understand, and manage depression and suicidal feelings.
We were honoured to have them and any other community or school would benefit greatly by having them present in their community.