Marshall shares her story to support others

As a person who always wants to help others, Nancy Marshall, a resident of Glen Haven Manor for the past several years, is very open about her mental health challenges. Nancy wanted to share her story during the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week, May 3 to 9, as an opportunity to provide encouragement and hope to anyone who faces such challenges as well as giving some insights and support for their loved ones.

In her mid-50s, Nancy has dealt with depression throughout her lifetime and experienced what she describes as severe lows which were very frightening and unsettling for her. Nancy says she is feeling better thanks to several very dedicated nurses and doctors as well as the strength she finds from her faith and her caring family, especially the love and concern from her mother.

“Depression can trap us when we least expect it,” says Nancy. She believes the pandemic has escalated feelings of depression for many or even caused new bouts of depression as we are all dealing with so many pressures and changes to our way of life. She reminds those with depression to remember that they are not alone and that they can reach out and connect with professionals who are trained to help.

Nancy has found a holistic, integrated approach effective and emphasizes that a healthy body and a healthy mind are interconnected. Doing creative activities and other techniques — from painting, pottery and knitting to yoga, music and poetry — have been great sources of healing and support for her well-being in complement with medication and therapy sessions. She explains with candidness and courage that it sometimes took a while to figure out the best combination of these tools and urges others to seek counselling as a very effective health service and to remain hopeful and positive. Nancy tells that she also practices gratitude by keeping a journal of things she is grateful for daily and says for her, realizing that many others too face such challenges, helps her to not feel alone.”

Nancy is quick to note everyone’s circumstances vary, that everyone has their own story. She believes that the pandemic has added stress for all, not only here at home in Nova Scotia and across Canada but that people from around the world are experiencing this in various ways. Nancy is hopeful the COVID19 restrictions will be able to loosen as the vaccination rollout increases. She says she misses her regular routine of visiting, volunteering and being out and about in the community. Nancy describes her own family and her Glen Haven family as blessings, saying they have played an important role in her resilience as she continues to contribute her many gifts to her community.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, she also says “mothers and mother figures add joy to our lives and is something to be very thankful” for during these trying times.