Making meaningful change

Christine Boyd is an educator, a poet, and a mental health advocate making meaningful change at St. Joseph’s. She’s also a loving mother and grandmother.

“I’m the mom of two amazing kids – a son and a daughter and between them, I have five grandchildren, who are the centre of my life,” she says.

She recently shared her story with more than 1,100 people at the Breakfast of Champions event. The annual event has raised more than $2 million for mental health care and raised awareness about the critical role St. Joseph’s plays in providing that care to the community.

Christine was proud to participate in the event, where through video she talked about her own care experience and her advocacy work as a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Councils and as a care partner.

A love of teaching

Growing up, Christine hadn’t considered a career in teaching. But that all changed during a transformative volunteer experience at London’s Children’s Hospital. The hospital had just started their play therapy program and Christine jumped at the chance to get involved. The experience ended up creating the foundation for a career she loved.

A few years later, she set off for Glendon College, and started bonding with a new set of friends and expanding her own skills so that she could pursue the career she always dreamt of.

“I had the time of my life at university,” Christine says. “I was living there with my friends – all of us had the same values of school first; we were all committed; we had a good time and none of us were prepared to give up our marks for anything.”

Christine embarked on what would become a 24-year teaching career – working as a supply teacher, special education specialist and with children who had severe behavioural problems.

But that job she loved was abruptly put on pause when Christine’s family suffered a traumatic event. It deeply affected her and her mental health.

A 30-year recovery journey

Twelve weeks later, Christine found herself in hospital – the beginning of a 30-year recovery journey from mental illness. The past three decades have been complicated and difficult as she was admitted to the hospital for care many times, sometimes for long stretches up to six months.

During her care, she discovered poetry – finding writing it both therapeutic and heart-wrenching at the same time.

Initially, she just wanted a way to write down how she was feeling and what she was experiencing. And what started out as notes on a pad of paper developed into poems that captured her deepest feelings.

“The poetry just comes along once in a while, and it’s like it’s born inside of me and all I have to do is to get it down,” she says.

It started with a call

Following a lengthy stay in the hospital, Christine received a phone call from a former colleague, asking her to help create and teach a Family Education Course to support patients and their families. The purpose was to educate family members, help them better understand and navigate the mental health care system, and connect them to appropriate community resources as needed.

Christine admits that it took a little convincing, but soon she was helping build that course and getting involved in other training, too.

Soon after, she connected with St. Joseph’s Family and Patient Advisory Councils at Parkwood, where family members and the two councils work together in partnership with the Hospital to ensure quality care for themselves and relatives living with a mental illness. She went on to serve as the Vice Chair for both councils and recently became a Care Partner at St. Joseph’s.

All these roles have offered Christine an opportunity to make important changes in the delivery of mental health care.

“It seems as if each of the changes make the patient experience a little bit better, and over time, I can really see some significant differences,” she says.

On top of all the changes she has been part of, being an advocate has also been helpful to Christine’s own recovery journey.

“This has been a really good spot for me, and I’ve learned a lot and I’ve contributed a lot. I think I have my niche, and I think I have hope,” she says.

Amazing experience

Christine was awarded the National Governor General Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers Award, recognizing the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country. It is the highest honour for volunteer service that an individual can receive within the Canadian Honours System.

Christine received the call notifying her about the award during a particularly difficult time. But hearing that call and taking part in the heartwarming celebration recognizing her made a huge difference to her wellbeing. She continues to draw upon it for strength.

“It really did a lot for how I look at myself and how I think about myself,” she says.

Ongoing journey

Today, Christine’s own mental health journey continues through outpatient care. She shares that her current physician treats her with respect and listens to her.

And she’s buoyed by the change that she sees happening in the delivery of mental health care overall.

“Change happens slowly, but there is hope. I have seen that it is possible, and that’s what keeps me going, and not give up on myself and others.”

Reflecting on her life, Christine is proud of what she has accomplished and where she is today.

“I loved my teaching job, but the work I’m doing now is so meaningful. Besides raising my children, the greatest accomplishments I’ve had are in mental health care. And nothing makes me feel better than knowing I am part of creating something that will make the experience better for others. It gives me a deep feeling of satisfaction.”