Chris Nihmey's Blog
June 8, 2021
Barrhaven Independent June 11, 2021
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March 11, 2019
Personal Leader for Mental Health Inspiration Award
On Friday, March 1st, 2019, I had the honour of receiving the Personal Leader for Mental Health Inspiration Award with the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. Four advocates were recognized for this special honour at the annual Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre Gala, attended by 550 guests!
The evening was incredible and brought many honoured guests such as former Governor General, David Johnston, and his wife, Sharon Johnston, former captain of the Ottawa Senators, Daniel Alfredsson, and his wife, Bibbi (You Know Who I Am), Margaret Trudeau, singer/songwriter, Kathleen Edwards, as well as several politicians, members of the RCMP and Ottawa Paramedics.
Through donors, as well as a live and silent auction, the gala grossed $521,000 for mental health research and care at The Royal. This was record breaking! It was a very special night to be honoured for my advocacy work in mental health.
Royal Talks
By day, Chris was a proud elementary school teacher. Yet, by night, he would alienate himself to survive. Mark Sutcliffe of 1310 News Ottawa gives light to Chris' story.
News Stories & Videos
The Royal Hosted its 16th annual Inspiration Awards Gala
Royal Ottawa's record-breaking Inspiration Awards Gala
Royal Talks presents the 2019 Inspiration Awards videos
January 20, 2019
Chris Talks ‘Reflections from Another Side’ with Rogers Daytime
Author Chris Nihmey talks with Dylan Black on Rogers Daytime. In this segment, Chris shares his stories about his journey from sickness to healing – faith, hope, love & support – and explains how the new book, Reflections from Another Side, came to life.
October 17, 2018
Reflections Has Launched!
And what a launch it was! On Saturday, October 13, 2018, amidst joyous cheers and clinging glasses, "Reflections From Another Side" officially took sail from the KS on the Keys harbour. On our five-hour voyage were family, great friends, and trusted colleagues, each embarking on this special historic journey. This adventure would welcome a plethora of travellers, all who chose to test out the waters. On this journey forward ho, we were greeted by members of the valiant crew: survivors, champions & prolific tale-tellers. They shared stories, recounts, and inspirational tales as our ship sailed toward the distant horizon. It would be a memorable voyage, and the treasures would be plentiful. And the gifts were hope and love, creativity and wonder, and awe. And it was beautiful. And it was good.
The journey now begins for you. Grab the helm, prop your sail, and turn the first page of your new adventure. Join our crew on this tell-tale journey that will take you beyond the horizon, and straight to the stars. Come sail away!
Chris
http://chrisnihmey.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CHRIS_NIHMEY_ON_CTV_-_OCT_13.mp4
September 20, 2018
August 30, 2018
You Are The Recipient
The Mayor and Gloucester-South Nepean Ward Councillor will present the Mayor’s City Builder Award to Chris Nihmey on Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at the start of the next City Council meeting at Andrew Haydon Hall (Council Chambers), Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West.
The Mayor’s City Builder Award is a civic honour created to recognize an individual, group or organization that, through outstanding volunteerism or exemplary action, has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to making our city a better place today and for the future. This may include lifelong service, outstanding acts of kindness, inspiring charitable work, community building or other exemplary achievements.
"Pleased to present the Mayor's City Builder Award to local author @ChrisNihmey for his incredible resilience and advocacy for mental health. / Je suis fier de remettre le Prix du bâtisseur de la ville à Chris Nihmey, pour son engagement en matière de santé mentale."
Mayor Jim Watson, Ottawa City Council
"What an inspirational story. Congratulations Chris and thank you for giving hope to everyone battling mental health disorders. It’s an honour to recognize your advocacy work and thank you for sharing your story."
Councillor Qaqish, City of Ottawa
Thank you, Peter Dunlap, for nominating me for this special award. I am so grateful for your act of kindness. You've given me a much larger platform to share my message of hope, resilience, and healing.
March 5, 2018
Reflections From Another Side
REFLECTIONS FROM ANOTHER SIDE is an anthology of written works compiled over a four year period in a long-term care home (Royal Ottawa Place) caring for those suffering from mental and physical ailments. An author, 10 mental health advocates, and 15 illness survivors, have come together to produce an inspiring collection of short stories, biographies, autobiographies, and poems that will educate, instill change, provide hope, and fight against the stigma of mental illness. Read a book that is changing lives every day. Read a book that encourages all of us to reach out, listen to one another, and to provide support for sufferers and their loved ones.
March 1, 2018
I Fight So That Stigma Loses
The above article was featured in the February 2018 edition of Catholic Teacher. It can be read on Issue here or you can download the PDF file here.
January 5, 2018
Reflections From Another Side
MY FIFTH BOOK IS ON IT'S WAY - REFLECTIONS FROM ANOTHER SIDE: MENTAL ILLNESS SURVIVORS AND ADVOCATES UNITE TO WRITE - an anthology of works written over two years in a long-term care home for those who suffer from mental and physical ailments. An author, 10 mental health advocates, and 15 writers have come together to produce an inspiring collection of short stories, biographies and poems that will fight against the stigma of mental health.
DATE OF RELEASE: I anticipate the release in mid-2018.
December 26, 2017
How a police officer’s act of compassion changed Chris Nihmey’s life
Joe Lofaro · CBC News · Posted: Jul 16, 2017 6:00 AM ET | Last Updated: July 16, 2017
When Chris Nihmey’s parents finally convinced him to see a doctor about symptoms of an undiagnosed mental illness, Nihmey didn’t want to listen to the medical advice.
The physician told him he had bipolar disorder and gave him some pills to manage his condition. But Nihmey, then 26, didn’t think much of the diagnosis, and laughed off the doctor’s orders.
The pill bottle stayed in his medicine cabinet untouched for more than two years.
It was around that time the Ottawa man was also diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. When his mental illness threatened to end his teaching career, he kept his sickness a secret and continued supply teaching.
“It wasn’t until I hit my major low, which was in 2001, that my eyes opened and basically I had to take [the pills] to survive,” Nihmey told CBC Radio’s All in a Day on Thursday.
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”
Nihmey finally got the help he needed and has turned his life around to become one of five Faces of of Mental Illness, a campaign by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH).
Visit from police a turning point
Nihmey told CBC Radio it was an encounter with an Ottawa police officer that changed his life.
During a phone call with his father from his apartment one day, Nihmey expressed suicidal thoughts. Feeling overwhelmed, he ripped the phone out of the jack and smashed it for nearly 15 minutes.
Shortly after, two police officers responding to a noise complaint knocked on his door. Clad only in boxer shorts, Nihmey explained to them what he was going through.
And he said these words, I’ll never forget them: ‘You’re going to be all right.’– Chris Nihmey
“I was 100 per cent sure I was going out in handcuffs,” he recalled.
Instead, one of the officers went into his bedroom and returned not with cuffs, but with a T-shirt, pulling it over the troubled young man’s bare torso.
“And he said these words, I’ll never forget them: ‘You’re going to be all right.'”
“What I saw that night was compassion, acceptance beyond no other, and it was the moment that I said I’m going to start writing the book that I planned with my dad two years ago. I started picking up my pen and I wrote, and I wrote, and I wrote. And my story eventually turned into a book.”
Nihmey now an author, public speaker
In 2007 Nihmey began writing his memoir, Two Sides To The Story: Living A Lie. It describes his battle with mental illness, and since its release in 2013, more than 2,000 copies have been sold.
In 2016, Nihmey released an illustrated picture book, Sally, a heartwarming story centred on mental illness and homelessness, geared to any age. He has also spoken at more than 100 venues about his story.
It’s his advocacy on ending the stigma about speaking out about mental illness that led to his selection as one of the Faces of Mental Illness.
As a spokesperson for the national campaign, he said his goal is to create a line of communication between people who are struggling with mental health issues, and their potential supporters.
“It’s up to the people around us to say, ‘I care about you, I accept what you’re going through. I may not understand it fully, but I’m here and I’m a support for you,'” he said.
Those simple words, Nihmey said, can help people who are struggling down a path to rebuild their lives.
As one of the Faces of Mental Illness, Nihmey will be featured in a national media campaign, including short videos that will be shared with Parliamentarians at an event during Mental Illness Awareness Week from October 1 to 7, 2017.
Listen to Nihmey’s full interview with CBC Radio here
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