Ian's Story: Code, Comedy, and Connection
37-year old Ian M. is a stand-up comedian, hobbyist, and CEO of an app development company Curious Markings Co. He also lives with mental illness.
In November 2023 Ian self-admitted to the McNair unit at KGH, when he felt his mental health was declining to the point that he was a danger to himself. Treatment and support received at KGH helped him get on the path to recovery, but when he was discharged he knew he needed to seek out and use other support. Describing what it can be like to find and access supportive resources in Kelowna he jokes, “I have sort of a mental map of free coffee.”
Despite feeling initially awkward, Ian visited the Wellness Development Centre (WDC), operated by CMHA Kelowna, eventually becoming a regular participant in Wednesday Peer Support, where he also occasionally catches a yoga class or pops into to one of the many social activities scheduled through the week.
Ian explains that it can be frustrating to read articles online or listen to professional researchers and practitioners in the mental health space—who may or may not have actually experienced it for themselves.
“Peer Support involves listening to people about how they are dealing with things, or how they are thinking about things,” he says. “There is a lot better learning in that way.” Using his characteristic humour to address the stigma that often surrounds mental health, Ian jokes, “You go in [the WDC] and there is the highest concentration of sane people you’ll be around…We’re actually doing something about our problems, and a lot of people aren’t.”
These days Ian’s “Big Hairy Audacious Goal” is the development of an app that makes rapid prototype apps, enabling the consumer to purchase one app and be able to use it forever to build other apps and avoid dangers of sharing their information and data widely with big tech companies. He sees app development as an artistic medium, similar to his comedy, or like learning multiple languages. For Ian, it’s all about learning. “My best medication is learning. My goal has always been to just figure out how to be, and that’s an ongoing job. I’m definitely getting better at it.”
For Ian, being part of the WDC has been stabilizing, acting as a grounding force in his life, where he can simply be himself, and interact with others who understand what it’s like to face mental health challenges. “You don’t have to be funny, you don’t have to be entertaining. You just get to ramble about things for a little bit and weirdly it resonates with the people around you,” he says.
When asked what advice he would give to someone who is struggling with their mental health, he reflects back on feeling like he had no one to talk to, but now understanding that, “There are so many people close to you that are there to help, even if you don’t feel like it.” He suggests starting there, reaching out to those around you. He goes on, “If you still don’t feel like there is an avenue, and you’re thinking about self-harm,” then it is time to seek professional help—whether that means a call to a crisis line, to CMHA, or to self-admit to the hospital. He acknowledges that “it’s scary at first,” but that help is available.
CMHA Kelowna Peer Support
Through the Wellness Development Centre, 50 people per month participate in Peer Support, running twice weekly on Mondays & Wednesdays. You can join in-person at CMHA Kelowna or online and over the phone. Youth Peer Support is also available through Foundry Kelowna.
Want to become a Peer Supporter? Fill out this online application.
Resources
Emergency & Support Resources | Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna
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