Reaching Out

Here is letter from 3 Grade. 12 girls I taught last semester and also in years past.

“Dear Mr. McGillis.  We want to thank you for being an amazing teacher in the past few years and this year.  The most important lessons we’ve learned from high school have been the life lessons and stories you have taught us.  We appreciate the honest sharing of your personal experiences, it has helped us through difficult situations and reassured us that we’re not alone.  Being able to have this class for the last 5 months has been valued greatly considering you’re one of the few “Tigger” teachers we’ve had the privilege of having.  It’s hard to put into words how grateful it has been to experience having a teacher who cares so much for their students.  You’ve taught us to follow our dreams and we hope one day you’ll follow yours of making an impact on others in the world.  Thanks again.  We know the Grade 12’s will appreciate you next year as much as we have.”

Sincerely,
Celina Whetung, Brea Payne, Emma MacNeil

Here is an email exchange that occurred after I met with a former 2015 Grad over a coffee.  She was very close to committing suicide and she reached out to me.  I gave her some of my advice and made sure she immediately sought professional help.  Here is what happened 2 days after our coffee.

Hey Rebecca,

Just making sure you are doing OK.  Have you told your parents about your feelings of not attending school?  Have you heard back from Michael Landsberg yet?

Make sure you email me back so I know you are OK.  Remember, if you get to that awful dark spot, you immediately get help, tell your parents, get someone to take you to the hospital etc.

Take care Rebecca,

Life is worth living, trust me on this.

Take care,
Joe

Hi Joe,

I watched Michaels interview yesterday, “happy on the outside” and I showed my parents it because he explained everything I was feeling that I couldn’t really put into words to tell my parents. I told them I can’t go back to school and they are really happy, they knew I was in a dark place and they were worried so they know that this was the best decision. 

I just want you to know how much you have helped me. I know it might have not seemed like much, but you honestly saved my life and I can’t thank you enough. I just needed to talk to someone who knew what kind of place I am in, and for that I am so grateful for you. I hope you know that you are a really special human and I think you can change a lot of lives and already have. 

I need time to just understand myself I think. Right now it feels like my mind is split into two, like one side is me and the other is the depression, if you understand what I mean. I’m not better, but I’m going to do everything I can to get better because even though life and society can be pretty shitty, I know that I am here to experience it and help people do the same. This might sound crazy, but I know and feel like I have an old soul, it’s hard to explain it actually… But I want to help people. 

I hope we keep in touch and thank you so much.
Rebecca 

Let me be very clear here-I am no saviour or professional. I was there for Rebecca when she needed someone to tell her story to. She is an awesome young girl who will do very well in life.

I have a beautiful family.  I am a husband, father of three amazing teenagers, sibling to 8 others (2 deceased from cancer) and have a group of best friends I grew up with since childhood and we still hang out today. I’m a high school teacher. I’m a drummer (almost famous-my band went aluminum in Japan in 1993 and my uncle Bob bought a copy-great coffee coaster now). I’m a regular guy. I Love to cook for my family and friends, love to make people smile and especially laugh. I love motivational people and stories, like Steve Gleason (former football player suffering from ALS, Travis Hamonic (of the New York Islanders who after all home games in NY takes a young kid who has lost a parent young and shows him the dressing room, gives the kids Islander paraphernalia, but more importantly talks and listens to them, Carey Price (of the Montreal Canadians for being so humble and respectful to his 1^st Nation roots and family and his love for the outdoors), Terry Fox (for everything) and Rocky Balboa for being my first number one hero when I was 7 in 1977. I actually thought I was Rocky between 7-10 years old running around the neighbourhood in my grey sweatpants and sweat shirt.  I only drank 3 eggs (he did five) and I puked (Rocky doesn’t puke).

I came minutes, possibly seconds away from committing suicide last May.

I have a chemical imbalance and suffer from depression like many other people.

I reached out to Michael Landsberg a week later and he got back to me. I consider him my friend. This is my story.

Please watch the video attached of a group of students called “Change Your Mind” led by Julie Vallieres (Type 2 Bi-Polar disorder) at St. Peter Secondary School in Peterborough.  I am interviewed for the first part, and then I jump on a bus with the Change Your Mind Group.  Enjoy the video (it has over 52 thousand views) and please share it with others.  It may save one life, or many.  It also may help out those who don’t suffer from any mental illness.  I just hope it helps.  Like Terry Fox, I hope.

I also attached a video of a drumathon I did for the Terry Fox Campaign for our school.  On a side note, St. Peter Secondary has raised over a million dollars since the campaign began and we are number one in Canada and the world for schools raising money in Terry’s name. I am proud that my 8 hour drumathon to popular rock music raised over $6400. Maybe someday I can do a drumathon for Suicide Prevention too. I would like that.

http://www.michelleferreri.com/2016/01/drumming-to-the-beat-of-depression-joe-mcgillis-story/