UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT
The first
annual UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT (a lighthouse in the night)
happens in Moncton on Saturday, March 3, 2014. The event, shining a light on
mental health, takes place all day with an art exhibition, an eclectic mix of
performances and a conference led by renowned psychology professor Dr. Sheldon
Solomon.
The idea
for such an event has been brewing in the mind of Dr. Patrick Marcotte, a
psychiatrist at Centre hospitalier universitaire
Dr-Georges-L.-Dumont, for years. In this Q&A he shares how UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT
came to fruition and what’s in store for Saturday. Dr. Marcotte also offers an
enlightening perspective on mental illness and the connection between artistic
expression and health.
AE also
caught up with François Giroux, Vice President and Creative
Director at HAWK, New Brunswick’s largest marketing company. Giroux shares what
went into UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT’s
logo, which he volunteered to design.
“The goal of UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT is not to protest, not even to educate on mental illness - there are already plenty of resources available for that matter. The goal is to experience TOGETHER a unique moment where everyone is under the spotlight, no matter the diagnostic label.” ~Dr. Patrick Marcotte
What inspired the event UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT and how did it come to being?
PM:
I have to go back in time as far back as when I was on
the school benches studying medicine at L’Université Laval in my
hometown Quebec City. Every year, I participated as a pianist in the university
health sciences annual show called Revue Qu’On Sert. Actually, this show
is still running, now in its 62nd year. I found it amazing to meet many other
students with artistic talents to prepare a few songs. That would keep us busy
and excited for months before the event. When I entered my specialty training in
1998 and more even so after I started my practice in 2003, I quickly was hit by
two sad things: one - how much mental illness was taking a heavy toll on the
whole person, invading and destructing even his or her most previously
passionate area of interests, and two - how much it was difficult to overcome
the shame imposed by social stigma, increasing drastically the challenge to get
back on track. For my patients with an interest in music, not only did the pervading
illness ruin their interest, but also opportunities to renew their passion were
seriously lacking. The idea came years ago, with the hope of giving a few
individuals an opportunity similar to the one I had in the past.
Tell us a little more about what’s happening at UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT on Saturday.
PM: Talking
about the project with a LOT of people for the last 3 to 4 years, I rapidly
found interest for music but also for exhibiting all form of artistic
creations. So, there will be a lot of everything: we have 30 people who will be
part of the exhibit, starting at 11 a.m. (May 3).
Some folks will read poems they wrote, discuss books they’ve written. We
have the enormous privilege to welcome an
internationally renowned speaker, Dr. Sheldon Solomon, from upstate
New York, who will give an extremely interesting conference on the existential
roots of stigma towards mental illness. The conference - in English only -
starts at 1 p.m. Afterward, there’s a mostly
musical show during the afternoon, starting at 2:30 p.m. We
had to create this afternoon show because we had too many artists for the
evening show. And, of course, the formal one: the evening show, starting at 7:30 p.m. There
you’ll find music but also dance, touching video testimonials from
patients living with mental disorders we taped professionally last March,
two speeches by a parent/psychologist, and animation. Everything is
free except for the evening show: tickets are one sale now, at the Université
de Moncton ticket centre (858-4554) for 22.50$ including fees. All
profits go to the cause.
What will the profits, earned from
ticket sales, specifically benefit?
PM: The
funds raised by UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT
will be used to bring about actual improvements to treatment services available
to those suffering from mental health issues in our region, thereby increasing
their chance of recovery:
Short term:
-Put in place an emergency fund to
solve certain basic needs impasses, such as housing, clothing, transportation
to appointments, etc.
-Cover the cost of certain new drugs
with fewer side effects but not yet featured on the list of medications covered
by the government.
-Purchase several phototherapy lamps
useful in treating depression, but not covered by the government.
-Educate the public and certain
target groups about mental illness
-Make available opportunities for
education and employment and artistic development.
-Encourage fitness by improving
access to various resources destined to physical activity.
-Engage in the necessary steps to
let the government know the importance to solve current major deficiencies in
obtaining access to mental health services in our region.
In the medium and long term
the campaign will contribute to promote clinical expertise, education and
research in mental health at Dr-Georges-L.-Dumont UHC.
“…severe mental disorders tend to affect a lot the ability to communicate verbally, because some neurological circuits are damaged by the illness; but art, which mostly originates in the non dominant cerebral hemisphere, seems to offer an alternate route to communication.” ~ Dr. Patrick Marcotte
Who
will be featured as performers/artists at UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT?
PM: Most
people are connected to mental health community in some way. We have
quite a few persons suffering from mental illnesses, family members, staff
including nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists.... The
medical community is also well represented, with two students in medicine, two
family doctors, one emergency physician and two psychiatrists (including
myself). I even (almost) convinced a surgeon! There are a few “outsiders”,
including two band mates I played lead guitar with in a band named Calico
Jacks for nine years until 2012.
How have preparations been going and what are you most excited about?
PM: We've been spending a lot of energy for more than a year now. We’re not a big team – five or six people doing most of the work. Luckily, I’m surrounded by very dynamic people who are very functional, reliable and dedicated to their roles. The most exciting moments - so far - have been seeing some patients - sidetracked by severe mental illnesses - get back on the road with a sense of direction and smile on their faces that we had not seen for a very long while. This outcome, in itself, for me, has already made all the painstaking long hours we’ve put in the project fully worthwhile. The auditions we held in January, the taping of a TV commercial and testimonials last March, the event LOGO unveiling, the T-shirt order; these have been exciting moments. Meeting with a lot of folks from different backgrounds, all working to this common goal of improving the future of mental illness has been quite a satisfying experience.
 |
| Dr. Patrick Marcotte |
And you will be performing too?
PM: Practicing
with a lot of talented folks has been a real treat. I must admit an egocentric
motive: it’s always a mystical experience for me to plug a nice Fender
Stratocaster or Gibson guitar into a Marshall amp, or to play the piano in an
inspiring setting and I’m really looking forward to this moment, musically-speaking
! There’s even one old good friend of mine who will travel all the way
from Gaspé (Quebec) to perform a few songs. Last time we played music together
was 18 years ago!
In your opinion how does art benefit
those who suffer from mental illness (or any illness)?
PM: Most
modern branches of psychotherapy stress the importance of mindfulness in
the process of maturing and becoming more resilient in the face of adversity -
for example a mental disorder. You may reach mindful states - being an observer
from a distance of your thoughts, emotions, and sensations…at any given
point in time - through many different pathways. Meditation is one. Mindful
eating, walking or yoga would be other examples. Art is certainly
potentially a very direct and effective mean to enter in perfect communion with
the present moment where life is really worth living.
Also, severe mental disorders tend
to affect a lot the ability to communicate verbally, because some neurological
circuits are damaged by the illness; but art, which mostly originates in the
non dominant cerebral hemisphere, seems to offer an alternate route to
communication. It would be quite hard if not impossible for a lot
of patients to deliver an inspiring testimonial like cancer patients do
during the Tree of Hope campaign. But wait and see what they can do with a
brush or a guitar in their hand.
What
are your hopes for UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT?
PM: I
hope the event will keep on happening every year for a long time, as long
as it may bring psychiatry on par with other medical specialities in terms
of recognition of the suffering of individuals affected by illnesses, in terms
of empathy from the general population, in terms of funding of research
and clinical services. Over the years, I’d like gradually to include anyone
with an interest for mental health in the project; I don’t want the event to be
reserved for people with artistic talent and tell people who are not
artists “just too bad”. The next big step may be to include sports
and physical activity in the event. Games on the campus and walks or runs could
easily be blended in. I also would want to include people from all age groups,
from youngsters to the elderly.
“We’re all human beings, identical to a degree of 99.6%, the human genome project teaches us. Most mental illnesses are not easily seen and even when they are, their origin is only explained by a dysfunction of a tiny group of neurons—not a reason to withdraw love and respect from these unfortunate people.” ~ Dr. Patrick Marcotte
Who should attend UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT?
PM: Everyone!
The goal of UN PHARE
DANS LA NUIT is not to protest, not even to educate on mental
illness – there are already plenty of resources available for that matter.
The goal is to experience TOGETHER a unique moment where everyone is
under the spotlight, no matter the diagnostic label. We’re all human beings,
identical to a degree of 99.6%, the human genome project teaches us. Most
mental illnesses are not easily seen and even when they are, their origin is
only explained by a dysfunction of a tiny group of neurons—not a reason to
withdraw love and respect from these unfortunate people. We have much more good
reason to feel alike, to celebrate our common humanity, than to feel isolated
or profoundly different. That may be scary for the ones doing fine, but
dissipation of the illusion of difference would be beneficial to everyone.
In your opinion, how have mental health awareness and support improved and what can we, as a society, be doing better?
PM: Mental
health awareness has certainly improved but people with these disorders are
not necessarily better welcomed in society. It’s a
very frightening scenario for anyone to consider developing such a tragic
illness. Everyone likes to believe mental illness only strike others. It’s
reassuring to believe that these people have done something wrong, that they
are possessed…that they are completely from another dimension. It’s reassuring
to believe that if I do enough physical exercise, if I eat well, if I meditate,
I’ll be spared…But truth is, no one is immune to the eventuality of a
mental illness. Some of my patients are high achievers, strong
and generous people and yet, they may fall too, badly and deeply.
We’ve had, recently, a very tragic example of this when one of our
dear colleagues jumped from a bridge. He was known as a very caring
physician, with high standards of quality. Afterwards, people think had they
been in his shoes, they would have handled things very differently. They don’t
understand the deep psychological suffering one may endure with a mental
disorder, independently of social status, wealth, any other superficial
attribute or any strength of character. As with any illness in
medicine, sometimes the illness wins, no matter how determined the patient
is and his or her treatment team. That’s no reason to stop working as hard
as we can to overcome these devastating conditions, the worst experiences a
human being can do through.
What’s Behind the Logo?
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“Mental
illness is a subject that is beginning to step into the light with more and
more people realizing that talking about it is the only way to break the
stigma. It's very encouraging and Hawk is proud to have contributed (in a small
way) to the great initiative that is ‘Un phare dans la nuit’.
The
logo is made up of colourful guitar picks highlighting the gathering of artists
for the cause. Each guitar pick is placed in such a way to forms a stylized
brain and wrap around the central element, the lighthouse. Like the event, I
believe the logo provides a colourful burst of positive energy.
It
was designed by myself strictly as a volunteer. As an agency we encourage our
employees to offer their skills and contribute to projects (or causes) that
make the community where we live and work a better place. It's part of our DNA
and part of our agency's mission to ‘Spread Brand Love’.” ~ François
Giroux, Vice President and Creative Director at HAWK
UN PHARE DANS LA NUIT
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Salle Jeanne-de-Valois, Université de Moncton
Events free 11am-5pm
$20+tax for 7pm spectacle de varieté
(all profits go to mental health initiatives)
