This is hardly news. CKCU in Ottawa has for many years had a weekly radio program called "Sound Mind" which is produced and hosted entirely by mental health patients.

The show actually covers a lot of important issues, and interviewed pretty much any politician who's actions had an impact on folks with mental health conditions. The people working on the show had an elaborate self-check system in place that helped to to make sure that any individual who was having a particularly difficult time would not appear on the air.

It's an indication of the show's success that the two founders wound up being invited to conferences in many cities to teach how other towns could develop similar shows.

Sadly one of those people, Steve Thomas, died in a snowbank when the local hospital insisted on forcing him out on the street even though he believed that he was not ready to be released. He knew that his head was not yet back to a where it needed to be. They did not agree.

When I attended Steve's memorial service I discovered that not only did he volunteer many hours at CKCU, he worked with six or seven other charities, making significant contributions to each of them.

He is missed.

Sad story about Steve Thomas, Barry. :(

But thanks for posting the note. It added much-needed context.

Bill D.

Well Bill, there are of course some very funny stories as well, including one that involved a very cool John Ralston Saul leaving the studio while the lobby was occupied by a very naked man who was hearing voices and three very nervous Carleton University cops. The campus cops were determined that none of them could actually touch a naked man because, well, you know...

I suppose it would depend where and how you touched the naked man. :)

Bill D.