Taking Off

Please offer a warm welcome to first-time contributor Jake, a man from British Columbia who started experiencing depression when he was a little boy and was officially diagnosed at age ten. When he was eleven he was sexually abused by a trusted adult. It took him years to recover from the betrayal. He took comfort in reading and getting out into nature when he was depressed, as well as using illegal drugs. When he was in his early twenties he almost died from a drug overdose and shortly thereafter was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Over the next decade he married three times and divorced twice. He became acutely ill in his late thirties and was involuntarily committed. It was there he made a commitment to recovery and mental wellness. He still encounters challenges related to Bipolar Disorder and also ADHD, but he has not looked back. He parents five children in a blended family and is happy that they do not share his struggle with mental illness. Jake finds a lot of comfort in art and is always looking for new mediums to express himself. He loves photography and is enamoured with photo editing.

About this photo: “The photo I submitted is called “Taking Off.” I took if of my daughter and her friends. It makes me happy to look at it. I love the unfettered joy of the children. We are at Admiral Tyrons Lagoon in Qualicum Beach. The children are dipping their feet in the Salish Sea.”

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