The expression on Kara Garcia’s face turned solemn after describing the well kept secret her family once harboured.

Fear of embarrassment and being shunned by the outside world prompted Garcia’s family to hide her great aunt’s bipolar disorder. Garcia’s great aunt is among three per cent of Canadian’s that suffer from bipolar disorder, a severe form of depression accompanied by cyclic episodes of mania.

Garcia spoke to students at Centennial College’s Centre for Creative Communications about the importance of recognizing and treating such disorders, and social stigmas which prevent this.

“If depression was a frequently treated disorder we would have a lot more productive people giving back to society,” Garcia said. “Nobody should have to worry what will happen if people find out they have a mood disorder.”

Garcia volunteers for the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario (MDAO) and spoke on behalf of MDAO’s campaign to confront stigmas surrounding mental illness. Volunteers like Garcia visit Canadian college and university campuses to spread awareness and debunk popular myths about mental illness.

Garcia discussed conditions such as anxiety, the most common mood disorder, which affects 12 per cent of Canadians. She went on to say the World Health Organization (WHO) has pegs depression as a leading cause of disability and premature death across all cultures.

Garcia said it is not uncommon for a person suffering from anxiety, depression or even psychosis to take the responsibility of treating the disorder into their own hands. For many, this means self medicating with drugs or alcohol. Failure to “make it go away” can leave the person in a spiral of guilt, Garcia explained.

“Depression is more than feeling sad,” she said. “It’s a medical disorder just like diabetes, something you don’t have control over. If I’ve had a history of diabetes in my family, I would not feel intense guilt for having to see a doctor and take insulin, nor should a person suffering from a mood disorder.”

Garcia explained the importance of spotting warning signs like changes in appetite, sleep, mood and general appearance, which can lead to diagnosis and open the door to treatment options.

“For depression 80 to 90 per cent of people can be successfully treated,” she said. “One third of people with bipolar disorder remain free of symptoms by taking mood stabilizers.”

Garcia described the MDAO environment, above Northern District library at Yonge Street and Eglinton Street, as a place where people suffering mood disporders can feel ‘normal’.

The facility runs peer support groups, education workshops for friends and family, a mentoring program that pairs people suffering similar disorders and art therapy groups, including a popular drumming group.

Centennial College’s guidance counselor, Joan Ferdinand said discussing mood disorders may give hope to afflicted students.

“Being able to recognize the signs and ask for help is critical,” Ferdinand said. “It is important for those who are suffering and struggling with their studies to feel that they are not completely alone and that people still care.”