Wendy Matthews

Mental illness is a setback to be sure, but there’s no reason you can’t have a happy, successful life.

That’s the message Wendy Matthews will bring to Brock this week when the St. Catharines entrepreneur is the keynote speaker for Mental Illness Awareness Week.

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Matthews will present “From Sadness to Selling Happiness,” a motivational talk about how she established her apparel business “Happy Being Me” after years of struggle. She was recently nominated for a Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year award.

“I want people to feel inspired and motivated,” said Matthews. “I want to share with people how I got happy.”

Mental Illness Awareness Week at Brock is an initiative between the University and the Niagara branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). On Oct. 5, organizers will hold a sticker campaign through the Tim Horton’s on campus to alert people to the high prevalence of mental health problems in Canada. The campaign will direct people to the CMHA website, where they can find information for a draw for a $25 Tim Horton’s gift card.

Mental Illness Awareness Week is important to educate people on the prevalence of mental illness. But it’s also a week, Matthews said, “to talk about the positive side of things.”

“From Sadness to Selling Happiness” is hosted by Student Health Services and the Canadian Mental Health Association. It will be from 6 to 7 p.m. at Thistle 243. The event is free and open to the public.

Recent interviews with Wendy Matthews:
• Niagara This Week: Happy Being Her
• TV Cogeco — Keep in Touch