Life Unscripted - Stories of Mental Health and Addiction
Life Unscripted has one goal - to break down stigma by sharing the inspiring stories of people living with mental illness and addiction. Shame and fear often stop people who really need help from reaching out. COVID 19 has created a mental health and addiction pandemic. For many, anxiety is now part everyday life. Alcohol and drug use has increased as people try to cope. Host Janice Arnoldi has lived with bi-polar (manic depression) disorder for more than 30 years. She has a half hour radio show and speaks regulary to groups about mental illness.
Life Unscripted - Stories of Mental Health and Addiction
She Was Born Addicted to Methadone - Is Now A Substance Use Peer Supporter
Chantel Bellingham was born 3 months early, weighed just over 3 pounds and addicted to methadone and possibly other opiates. She was adopted by a wonderful family but it’s not a surprise that addiction reared it’s ugly head when she was in college.
Chantel is with me today to talk about using substances and how she is using her experience to help others.
She is now a peer support worker at Community Addiction Services of Niagara and will be back on the show in January to talk about the importance peer support and how she is using her experiences and to help people who are battling mental illness and substance use issues.