A Case of Recovery

Since anybody can experience mental illness in their lifetime, it is key to understand how to support mental health recovery.

Years ago, I conducted a presentation on my recovery from bipolar disorder at the World Psychiatric Association International Congress (A Case of Recovery, December 1, 2007).

In my case, recovery was a 10-year process which can be best understood from a biopsychosocial perspective, in my opinion. The biopsychosocial model is a holistic, person-centred framework that explains health, illness, and human development through the complex interaction of biological, psychological and social factors.   

Specific information about my story — including factors that contributed to the deterioration of my mental health and the things which supported my recovery — is available in the public domain, including: 

• a short film produced by E.C. Warner (The Naked Advocate – 2006);
• my talk at The Street Theatre in Canberra in (Australian Broadcasting Corporation – 2011);
• my chapter in Coming Out Proud to Erase the Stigma of Mental Illness (Changing My Mind – 2015); and
• my research report into the File 1000-121 Affair (One Media Law: A case study of regulatory capture, systemic corruption and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission – 2015). 

The following five quotes by three journalists, a politician and a social scientist provide some insight into my experience of severe mental illness in Canada and subsequent recovery in Australia.    

Peter Kent — News Anchor (Global Television, August 7, 1995). 

“A Toronto man plans to widen his crusade against some of the most powerful vested interests in Canada. Keith Mahar says the cable TV industry is overcharging consumers, hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Dan McTeague — Member of Parliament (Global Television, August 7, 1995).

“I think Keith has touched on something that may offend a lot of people in high places. But the reality is, in my view, and we’ve studied this for some time, myself and my staff, he’s dead on.”

Gretchen Drummie — Reporter (Toronto Sun, November 15, 1996)

“Bay shoppers got an eyeful yesterday when a naked man marched through the perfume department.”

Antonia Zerbisias — Media Columnist (Toronto Star, February 6, 2007)

“One lone activist is lobbying to get your money back. He is ex-Toronto cable broadcast manager Keith Mahar who made a name for himself in 1994. He fought with a passion against the cable companies and the CRTC for citizen/consumer rights – and his fervour cost him is career as well as his emotional and mental health.

An activist David against the media Goliaths, he didn’t have a chance against the all-powerful cable monopolies and their allies in Ottawa.

Now he lives in Canberra, Australia, where he is a social worker and mental health advocate.

But he has not given up his cause.”

Patrick W. Corrigan — Distinguished Professor of Psychology (Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, February 22, 2016).

“Knowledge of Mr. Mahar’s story will serve to challenge the stigma of mental illness, raise awareness of recovery, and inspire hope for people with mental health problems and their families.”