At the age of six, John Groenstein had his first drink. By eight, he was getting drunk. It was the beginning of decades of self-destructive behaviour, heavy drinking, depression and anxiety. John will share his very personal story next week to kick off the hospital’s 2011 diversity speakers’ series, Embracing Diversity Through Personal Journeys.

Eventually John sought help, his mental health issues were properly diagnosed and he began treatment and rehabilitation. Today, the retired mental health counsellor at The Scarborough Hospital has been sober for 13 years.

“John’s journey is powerful and delves into an area of diversity that can be invisible – mental health,” says Waheeda Rahman, Director of Diversity, Equity and Stakeholder Outreach at The Scarborough Hospital. “This is an important issue within our global community that needs to be understood, especially as mental health intersects with other dimensions of diversity such as culture.”

The media and members of the community are welcome to hear John’s journey and ask questions about his experience.

WHAT: Diversity Speakers’ Series: Embracing Diversity Through Personal Journeys
WHEN: Thursday, January 20, 11:00 a.m.
WHERE:The Scarborough Hospital, General campus, Auditorium
WHO: John Groenstein, retiree, The Scarborough Hospital Mental Health Unit
  
Situated in the most diverse community in Canada, The Scarborough Hospital (TSH) delivers innovative, high-quality patient care at two hospital campuses and six satellite sites. The Scarborough Hospital is a regional centre for dialysis and is renowned for its sexual assault care centre and mental health programs. Affiliated with the University of Toronto, TSH is also a referral centre for vascular surgery, pacemakers and corneal implants.

For more information, please contact:
Tracy Huffman, Communications Officer
The Scarborough Hospital
416-438-2911 ext. 6770
thuffman@tsh.to