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Alone, you can only do so much

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Together We Are Unsinkable

Alone, you can only do so much

Together we are Unsinkable

Together we’re Unsinkable

Unsinkable is a not-for-profit organization founded by Silken Laumann. We care about mental, physical, social, and spiritual health. We share stories, amplify voices, and offer a community of support, resources, and programs built with your wellbeing in mind. Together, we are unsinkable.

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unsinkablestories

The events that took place on December 30th, 1986

The events that took place on December 30th, 1986 changed my life forever. My name is Bob Wilkie and I am a survivor.

Being a Canadian, I shared a dream with millions of kids: to play in the NHL. From as young as I can remember, all I wanted to do was be on the ice. I have fond memories of watching Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night with my family.

As I climbed the ladder of success as an athlete, my dream of being an NHL hockey player was showing signs of promise. At 16, I was playing in the Western Hockey League for the Calgary Wranglers.

My first year was a success. At the end of the season, I was ranked by Central Scouting to be a potential first round draft pick in the 1987 NHL draft. I was over the moon happy and I could feel my goals slowly becoming a reality for the first time in my life.

In October of 1986, I was traded from Calgary to the new Swift Current Broncos. I was very anxious to be getting dropped off in Swift Current at my new billet home. The Harrimans – Janine, Bob, and Cari (5) and Susie (3) – were going to be my new family. I was thankful to have them and loved living with the young girls who proved to be a welcome distraction from the stresses of hockey. Although I was adjusting to my new life, I was homesick. I missed my life in Calgary but I was having success and holding in the rankings.

After Christmas, we returned from a short break and set off on the final push of achieving my dream of being recognized as a potential NHL player. We boarded the bus with our minds set on having a great start to the second half of the season. The roads were bad. It was going to be a slow ride, but this was not unusual for Canadian roads in the winter. Five minutes into the drive things took a turn for the worse. The bus had just crossed the train bridge and began to slide off the road. I had my Walkman on and out of the corner of my eye I could see my teammate, Trent Kresse, stand up and shout, “Hold on, it will be OK!”. It wasn’t...

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To read Bob's full story, visit the link on our bio!

#UnsinkableHumans

Being vulnerable is brave; it’s the moments of d

Being vulnerable is brave; it’s the moments of discomfort that allow us to grow. It’s that same vulnerability that allows us to help so many others. Open up and be vulnerable, even when it’s hard. You don’t have to carry that heavy darkness alone; let the light in. - @daniellecdelgado 💛

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Thank you Danielle for sharing your Unsinkable story with us! To read Danielle's full story, visit the link in our bio!

#UnsinkableHumans

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#vulnerable #vulnerabilityisstrength #vulnerability #selflove #selflovejourney #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #inspiration #inspirationalstory

Your mind is your best asset, and you have lives t

Your mind is your best asset, and you have lives to change. You have all the tools you need to build your new building, so get outside your current one, your comfort zone (being scared is normal- it’s a good thing!) and start. - @alishaaslam_ 💛

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Thank you Alisha for sharing your story with us and being a change maker! You are #Unsinkable 💛

Link in bio for the full story!

Vulnerability takes courage. Trust me, I know. G

Vulnerability takes courage.

Trust me, I know. Growing up, I always felt simultaneously too much and not enough. According to societal standards, my body took up too much space to be deemed beautiful, and in addition to my physical insecurities, my emotions & the emotions of others felt larger than life. At the same time, I believed I wasn’t bold enough, ambitious enough, loud enough to make my own voice heard.

I hid. I kept my thoughts to myself, afraid that if I opened up I would be judged. I preferred to observe, take it all in. I could listen to other people and lift them up; I was good at that. That felt comfortable, and came naturally to me. If I didn’t open up, I wouldn’t get hurt. That felt safe. Eventually, it wasn’t enough.

A childhood friend of mine passed away my sophomore year of college. This sparked a need to go to therapy to learn to cope, a catalyst for my vulnerability. Opening up to a therapist led to a lot of self-discovery; there was no hiding in that room.

After years of self-work in therapy and encouragement from family and friends, I can finally open up and be vulnerable. It was the combination of the empathy that has always come so naturally to me and this newfound vulnerability that allowed me to begin to embrace who I was, truly and deeply.

Anytime I felt like I was drowning in my own grief or my head was spinning with uncertainty, being vulnerable & sharing those feelings with someone else got me through it. On my darkest days when the whole world felt heavy, being vulnerable took the tiniest bit of weight off my shoulders.

Being vulnerable is brave; it’s the moments of discomfort that allow us to grow. It’s that same vulnerability that allows us to help so many others. Open up and be vulnerable, even when it’s hard. You don’t have to carry that heavy darkness alone; let the light in.

- @daniellecdelgado 💛

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Thank you Danielle for sharing your Unsinkable story with us 💛

#UnsinkableHumans

Your story has the power to inspire and empower ot

Your story has the power to inspire and empower others, and we want to hear from you 💛

Story submissions now open! DM us to get started 🙌

#MyUnsinkableStory

THE HEALING POWER OF FITNESS My exercise routine h

THE HEALING POWER OF FITNESS
My exercise routine has been my best stress management strategy throughout my healing. When feelings of anxiety start to rise up or when the clouds of depression drift in, I recognize them and know I have an arsenal of tools to manage these rough waves of emotions.

THE TRAUMA MIND-BODY CONNECTION
Adding mindfulness to my movement has been a practice of mine that has proven to be very beneficial. It has immensely propelled my healing forward, allowing me to center my mind and calm my breath when my anxiety rises or in moments when I have a flashback. It gives my body time to be in the present moment which is key to anyone experiencing anxiety.

Mental health is just as important as physical health and I place an equal emphasis on it and make time to take care of my whole self. My fitness regime has been an incredible tool to help minimize the symptoms of these medical conditions.

I have risen from a place that was dark to a lighter brighter space that I have created. There are so many others that could write or talk about their trauma experiences. My story is not unique. Know that you are not alone. Some are not ready to speak aloud. Take your time. It took me many years to get to where I am today but with the help of many caring therapists, support of my husband and the foundation of my fitness, I am so strong today that I am able to share my healing path with anyone. The final stage of healing is using your experiences to help others.

Together with our mental health stories and struggles, we can speak up, speak louder, and hold space for one another. We can listen to and believe the stories and push forward together by fighting for others’ protection and healing. Getting involved in these ways add to the fight by protecting others from potential trauma, helping others heal, and offering hope because telling our stories is powerful.

- Doris Ward 💛

Link in bio to read Doris' full story 💛

Lynn @lynnkeane_7 is a speaker, author, endurance

Lynn @lynnkeane_7 is a speaker, author, endurance athlete and an advocate for suicide prevention and mental wellness. She is a Lululemon Legacy Ambassador, has contributed to Bell Let's Talk Day as an ambassador, been a guest on several CTV platforms, and has been a proud Unsinkable Community Champion and Board of Directors member.

As Lynn transitions from her roles at Unsinkable, we'd like to express our gratitude to all that she has done for our organization. Thank you, Lynn, for being such a passionate advocate for mental health. You have helped us touch so many peoples lives by being so vulnerable in sharing your own story, in the hopes of raising awareness for suicide prevention. We could not have done it without you.

You can read more about Lynn's story by visiting the links in our bio!

Lynn, you are #Unsinkable! 💛

“We can’t always choose the music life gives y

“We can’t always choose the music life gives you, but you can choose how you dance to it.”

That saying was a gift and it sits on my kitchen counter. It is next to the sink so I read it numerous times throughout the day. The music is life. All of it ….the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Six years ago, the music was hard to hear. It was there but I didn’t want any part of it. I was 45 years old and a doctor looked at me and said, “I think you have Parkinson’s.” The music stopped and so did I.

I did not want to accept the possibility of living with “a degenerative brain disease to which there is no cure.” I have never shared this but I distinctly remember a conversation I had with my husband. I said, “I can’t live with it. I don’t want to live with it.”

There have been many twists and turns along the way. As for the Parkinson’s, six years later, I am doing better than I ever imagined. I am living my life with an incredible support system and we all have learned some lessons along the way. One of the most important – the music is playing. You need to stop, breathe, and just listen.

I have learned to listen to the music and dance to it…literally. Dancing is a weekly date for my husband and I. Who knew a Parkinson’s diagnosis would make us start dating again? An unexpected twist – a good one! Boxing and writing are also unplanned changes in the choreography of my daily life. They all started as tools to manage my symptoms, but they have become so much more.

The most recent addition to my toolbox is writing. It has given me a platform to share my story and my passion for Parkinson’s awareness. This time, it gives me a chance to share what makes me “unsinkable?”

For me, the answer is “who” makes me unsinkable? We all have one hero that we take for granted. For me, that hero is my husband, Mike. I would not be where I am today without him. This time, he gets the kudos and it’s long overdue.

We didn’t choose the music but we choose how we dance to it…together, one day at a time.

I am not unsinkable but WE are!

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To read Lori's full story, visit the link in our bio 💛

During the many years after my diagnosis, I never

During the many years after my diagnosis, I never imagined that a full and meaningful life was possible. I now have stronger ties to my family than ever before.

I understand my mother’s plight as she also has bipolar disorder. I feel that having this condition has actually brought us closer. I have supportive friends who understand that mental illness may cause me to isolate at times, where I do not reach out to anyone for days or even weeks.

I am fortunate that those times are no longer a significant concern as my mental health has improved so dramatically it often feels like I am in a type of remission.

Additionally, a loving and supportive romantic relationship never seemed to be a possibility. I felt too different for anyone to accept, and considered myself to be unlovable because I had a serious mental illness. I was so wrong. I am now married to an accepting man who understands my ever changing energy levels and embraces my authentic self with all of my moods.

There are numerous mental health advocates surfacing in Canada daily and for this I am grateful. We are all working in union and bringing forth a vitally important message into the world that.

💛 There is always help and there is always hope 💛

As for myself, I have finally found deep meaning in my diagnosis and the tragedies that happened in the past, and I am assured that it all took place for a very significant reason. On the darkest of days, I remind myself that I am one of the lucky ones, I made it through and it is my responsibility to let the world know that no matter our challenges, we can all live extraordinary lives.

- Andrea Paquette

I arrived at the clinic as soon as it opened but I

I arrived at the clinic as soon as it opened but I was still there for an hour and a half. I was waiting for my turn to get a blood test and an ultrasound before meeting with the doctor. I was anxious to find out how our second round of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with PGT-M was going. PGT-M is a test that can be performed on embryos to determine if they have a genetic disease.

I was diagnosed a gene-positive for a Huntington Disease (HD) two years earlier. HD is a degenerative neurological condition that causes cognitive impairment, uncontrolled movements and emotional issues. Along with my diagnosis came the knowledge that any child I conceived had a 50% chance of inheriting the disease from me.

After receiving my test results I became terrified of my future and I fell into a deep and long lasting depression.

I questioned whether my life had value if I was just going to get a horrible disease and die. My diagnosis was so all-consuming that I couldn’t see myself as anything other than someone who was going to get HD.

Amidst all that anguish, depression and loss, my husband and I decided to have a baby despite the risk. The only option left to try was an IVF with PGT-M.

I received the results of our second IVF on a cool fall afternoon. “Your test has come back negative. I am so sorry” she said.

I knew at that moment that I wouldn’t be able to continue doing fertility treatments. I was physically and emotionally drained.

I always knew that I was meant to be a mom and I didn’t want to give up on my dream. After giving it a lot of thought we decided to try adopting.

When I was diagnosed as gene-positive for HD and infertility I didn’t understand how I could ever be happy again. But I knew that I didn’t want those medical issues to ruin my life.

I had the desire to find happiness again and made it my goal. It has been over ten years since my HD diagnosis and I am finally in a place of contentment.

I know that a lot of people are afraid to speak up about genetic diseases, infertility and depression. I am sharing my experiences now because I want others going through similar things to know that they are not alone.

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Link in bio to read Erin's story 💛

Spend your energy wisely folks 💛

Spend your energy wisely folks 💛

My mental health story started when I was a young.

My mental health story started when I was a young. I was always considered a “shy” kid and I think back then there wasn’t much awareness around mental health, so a lot of people got written off as just being shy. For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt a detachment from my body. I didn’t know until I was a lot older, but what I was experiencing was a panic disorder and frequent bouts of depersonalization.

At that time, I remember feeling really weird about the action of walking and it always made me uncomfortable. At school, I would always try to run to spots in order to avoid having to walk. If a teacher needed to speak with me, I would get out of my desk and run to them.

It became harder to avoid situations that made me feel out of place. I came up with very problematic solutions to these problems. I would hand in tests before I was done, not because I didn’t know the answers, but because I hit my limit of time where I was able to stay in a room with a large group of people. I started experimenting with drug use for the brief moments it would make me feel at ease. I also picked up smoking because I felt like it gave me a valid excuse to leave any social interaction whenever I needed to.

None of those things were solutions and in all honesty, they made things much worse. I signed up for support groups, tried meditation, and a bunch of other things before I was finally prescribed medication.

These days I am doing a lot better. I still have moments of extreme anxiety and detachment, but I am able to power through them.

In all honesty, I wasn’t super comfortable sharing this, but one thing I’ve learned is that sharing these stories can be very needed.

Mental health awareness is so important and I feel like this is especially the case with the black community. As a black man, I was dealing with all of the things I mentioned, but then on top of that, there was a lot of anti-black racism and racially fueled micro-aggressions at every turn.

For black people and people of colour, there can be both a war going on internally in our minds and externally in society. I think it’s important that those people know they aren’t alone.

- Alexander Robinson 💚

I am a firm believer in love but it’s not someth

I am a firm believer in love but it’s not something that has ‘stuck’ with me, yet. I still feel it will come one day. This not to say I am not surrounded by love, because I am, and I feel it every day. It’s the love of one intimate partner, on another level, that has not yet found its way into my life. I thought I had it, once and then twice, but I was shocked to have it abruptly leave both times. This led to some serious life changes and soul searching.

At 20 years old, I met who I thought was my guy. It was disclosed to me he had Cystic Fibrosis, but it never fazed me. He was still a guy deserving of love just as I was a girl deserving the same.

This illness was a definite hardship to have above all the day to day struggles that can come with relationships. We were both committed to the work of being together and so sought help where and when needed. As we grew into a family, new struggles arose because juggling so many roles is simply challenging.

I eventually became very introverted and a stay-at-home-in-my-cozy-comfortable-space person, because it felt safe to me being there with my two young boys. Paper crafting and writing became an outlet for me, but they are also very individual tasks, so I was alone most of the time but in a good head space.

Just after celebrating 15 years of marriage, and 18 years together, my then husband said he was not happy and pointed out that I was not happy so he wanted a divorce. I felt crushed and could not believe at 40 years old, my whole world and the world of my children was going to completely change. Within 2 months of this request to divorce, my workplace in the downtown east side of Vancouver closed its doors.

My career and my marriage both began and ended at the same time. The loss I was feeling was unbearable...

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To read Colleen's story on healing and finding herself, visit the link in our bio! 💛

#UnsinkableHumans

There is no overly dramatic “rock bottom” stor

There is no overly dramatic “rock bottom” story for me to share. Like many other problem drinkers, I just got really tired of being really tired. When I decided to stop drinking, I reached out to a few friends, two of whom I knew to be recovering alcoholics, and I told them I was in trouble.

I knew in my heart that I couldn’t take that revelation back once I put it out there. I would have to be accountable.

The thing about asking for help is that you often get it. The help that I received led me to a freedom that I could never have imagined. Very cliché, but also very true.

That does not mean that this process has been free of pain, anxiety or OCD. It does mean that I have gained the confidence and courage to face all things head on. I have not escaped. I am not “free from” but I am “free in” my challenges now.

I’ve learned to breathe. I’ve learned to say no. I’ve learned when to step up, and when to sit down.

I don’t know what the future has in store for me, but I know I’ll be present for it all.

While it takes bravery to put that out there, the hope is stronger. For it is hope that I cling to in believing my story could pull someone else out of darkness.

- Allison Garber 💛

✨UNSINKABLE COMMUNITY CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT ✨ M

✨UNSINKABLE COMMUNITY CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT ✨

My name is Laurie, I am a mother of two beautiful girls, wife, police officer for 23 years and an avid runner.

So let's be honest here about why I run; I run for my mental and physical health. It helps keep me in check. I have a demanding job as well as a child with her own mental health struggles(ADHD, anxiety and depression) , she has threatened suicide and self harms. These combined can be both mentally and physically exhausting. Running truly is my savior! I do my best thinking when I run, it clears my mind so I can go about my day. Oh and my therapist too!!

I have lost 5 friends to suicide and my mom to cancer. With that being said, this fueled my passion to help others struggling. It's really my daughter who inspired me because of what she is going through.

I taught mental health courses for 4 years to police and civilian members, I am also a CIRT (critical incident response team ) and peer support member for our service as well.

I believe we all can make a difference in the world one little baby step at a time.

Here's some fun facts about @thecoffeecop 🎉

● Favorite book: Tip of the spear by Eric Hendrickson

● Favorite snack: Chocolate covered almonds

● Favorite quote: "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about, be kind. Always." - Brad Meltzer

● My theme song: Underdog - Alicia Keys

I AM RESILIENT. I AM #UNSINKABLE.

I am a grandson, son, brother, fiancé, dog dad, h

I am a grandson, son, brother, fiancé, dog dad, horse enthusiast, mental health advocate, professor and police officer.

Wearing a uniform is much like living a separate life. Like many of my colleagues, your identity becomes “the cop” as soon as you put it on. Less emotion and more grit. Problem solver and situation handler: the jack-of-all-trades, master of none. The “cool story teller” and brunt of “interesting” dinner banter.

On duty, there was policy, public expectation, law, and internal police etiquette/culture that dictated how we would interact with victims, the grieving, the struggling, or those in crisis. In my opinion, it created consistent, streamlined approaches to managing policing in an effort to ensure a basic standard was always being accounted for. As a trade-off, sometimes, it made it harder to have the emotional connection.

In January of 2018, I started to volunteer with Dr. Jay’s Grief Group. A group for children and youth who experienced a traumatic loss, or who were navigating grief and losing someone really close.

I joined a panel called “Ask the Expert” even though I really wasn’t a seasoned veteran. The “expert” title wasn’t so relatable, but grief was.

I was asked, “What experience do you have with grief, and why are you here?”

I started sharing about my experience losing my ‘person’, before stumbling into my experience with grief as a police officer. I shared the two calls that changed me as a person and an officer.

I got emotional. I cried in front of a group of kids and professionals who all expected the cop to show up. Not the blubbering mess. I made it through my bio, and managed to look up and notice there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

For the first time EVER in a job, I had an “ah ha” moment. My experience was the fact I was young, current, relatable and within reach to these kids. I was in that seat because I’m okay getting vulnerable, getting emotional and trying to be brave.

Selfishly, I realized how much I was helping myself with my new identity as a police officer, humanizing my uniform and hopefully making my vulnerability accessible to at least one person...

Link in bio to read Joshua's full story 💛

You can simultaneously heal your past while being

You can simultaneously heal your past while being open to the present.

- @yung_pueblo 💛

We all have energy flowing through us. Whether we

We all have energy flowing through us. Whether we call this energy chi, shanti or spirit, it’s an energy in our inner being.

Fight and flight is a strong energy in each of us. We have all felt it when we perceive a threat. I am grateful for my strong fight response. As an athlete my fight response help me win Olympic medals.

In a world where many of us are no longer lacking food or shelter and we are not asked to out run a saber tooth tiger our fight or flight response has turned inward to our psychological threats. The work as I have grown is to understand this instinct and not allow the flight or fight response to close me emotionally.

If I feel threatened by a conversation or an imagined competition, I consciously resist the instinct to close myself psychologically. If we keep closing ourselves when we feel psychologically threatened we eventually create blocks in our bodies, minds and souls.

So my mantra in meditation has been to open my heart, open my mind and open my body to the healing force of love. I still get hooked into fight or flight, but I am much more conscious of this instinct. I breathe, stay open and chose a measured and centered response.

- @silkenlaumann 💛

My struggle wasn’t with the decision to retire,

My struggle wasn’t with the decision to retire, it was coming to grips with the reality of that decision. It wasn’t what I truly wanted to do anymore, and it was the void that scared me.

I never wanted to play to hold onto what I once wanted. I promised my dad, and myself, that I would never let that be me. It’s easy to say, but how do you know when you’re holding on too long? The same way as always: ask yourself about your vision. Or better yet, have someone who knows you better than yourself ask you. If it’s nostalgia that pops up – you’re holding on, time to let go. But you know what?

Life goes forwards, not backward. Memories are to be enjoyed, not chased.

That was all it took. One straightforward question from my dad and it was all crystal clear. I was fooling myself and craving the comforts of yesterday. It was time to do what I had done my whole life. I had to build a new tomorrow visually, and for the first time since I could remember, that tomorrow would no longer involve being a football player. It was scary at first, until I realized what it meant: freedom. For the first time since I was a teenager, I had a total blank slate. I wasn’t being pulled anymore, so I had the time and space to create something entirely new.

It was time to let go.

It’s hard to admit, but every mission has a conclusion and the hardest part is realizing when that is. It was hard for me to say goodbye to football, but I knew the time was right.

We can easily fool ourselves, especially when there are high emotions involved. That’s why you need trusted people around you. People who know what you’re about, and who will always be there to help you through your struggles. They need to be the kind of people who love you enough to challenge you.

Always remember: memories are easy to hold onto, but building a strong vision is much harder because it requires hard work. Spend that time, build it strong, and share it with those who care for you. That’s how you make your dreams come true.

A strong vision is your most powerful tool, I firmly believe that, but never forget to question yourself. Are you moving forward or are you moving backwards?

- Angus Reid (@angus_reid64 )

✨ UNSINKABLE YOUTH COMMUNITY CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT

✨ UNSINKABLE YOUTH COMMUNITY CHAMPION SPOTLIGHT ✨

Hi everyone! For those of you who don’t know me yet, my name is Arissa @arissa_roy and I’m a youth activist, an Unsinkable Community champion, and the founder of Project Power Global. I’m also a high school student from Toronto!

Just over 1 year ago, I was asked by one of the incredible staff at Unsinkable if they would be allowed to share one of my pieces that I wrote about the BLM movement. With utmost excitement and gratitude I said yes, and now, that moment is how I first got involved with Unsinkable! Now I’m so honoured to say I’m a Community Champion and the Co-Chair of the grade 7-9 youth council!

Fun Facts about me 🎉

• Favourite book: The Fault in our Stars -John Green

• Favourite Snack: Crepes

• Favourite quote: “You can be a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time” -unknown

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