Drawing from a deep well of cheerfulness and determination, Cathy Viberg has fought stigma for 31 years - both as a Douglas nurse and a volunteer. Although Cathy retired in August this year as clinical- administrative chief for the CPC3 Intensive Rehabilitation Unit, her legacy is one of which any mental health professional would be proud.

Cathy's commitment to mental health began in her twenties, "Back in 1971, I was a nursing student sent to train at the Douglas. The first thing I remember seeing was a fence surrounding the grounds. It separated the Douglas from the community and gave the institution a slightly forbidding air. However, as soon as I went inside the gates and began my work, I enjoyed it. I saw that the Douglas was a place where I could make a difference."

Quickly displaying leadership capabilities, Cathy was named head nurse in 1979 of Newman Pavilion - which, at that time, served 40 male and 40 female in-patients. She has since worked in many capacities throughout the Douglas.

Music, Crafts and Teamwork

Passionately supportive of community reintegration, Cathy and her CPC3 team have been masters at raising funds by organizing craft sales, with support from Douglas staff and community groups. She and the team also help CPC3 Rehabilitation Assistant Terry Williams, who organizes annual concerts by Suzuki Montréal. Cathy proudly explains, "We use the proceeds to bring patients into the community and teach them about available services. Just as important, we remind them how to have a good time!"

Under Cathy's leadership, the CPC3 team did an impressive job of implementing the primary nursing model on the unit in 2005-6. This resulted in an increase in patient quality of life, and a discharge rate that jumped from 19 patients in 2005-6 to an amazing 54 patients in 2006-7. In addition, Cathy volunteered at AMI Quebec in the 1990s, providing mental health seminars for their staff, and was a proud server at the Douglas Patients' BBQ every year until it ended in 2006.

That's Terrible Work…

Too often, Cathy meets with negative reactions - even from fellow healthcare professionals - when she mentions her work at the Douglas. On one occasion, an oncologist exclaimed, "Oh my God! That's terrible work. I certainly couldn't do it." Cathy thought to herself, ‘You work with people with cancer, yet you think mental illness is too difficult? You obviously don't realize how effective the treatments for mental illness are these days. If you don't know, imagine what impression the general public must have!"

Perhaps one of the most disturbing stigmas she has encountered is the belief that psychiatric nursing staff are subject to physical abuse on a daily basis. Whenever she gets the chance, she helps to dispel this myth, "No patient wants to lash out. Douglas staff spend a lot of time teaching patients alternatives, and listening to their concerns, so they don't become frustrated. That strategy, along with proper medication, works in the vast majority of cases."

A New Era

To proud of many recent Douglas initiatives to reduce stigma, "One of my favourite memories involves seeing 7,000 members of the general public - complete with coolers and umbrellas and folding chairs - flock to the Douglas grounds in 2006 to watch the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. They looked so comfortable, as if they were in a park. People with, and without, mental illness sat side by side - sharing their joy in music."

Cathy's optimistic for the future, "Amazing progress has been made since I arrived in 1976. Bit by bit, the fences - real and symbolic - are coming down."

In a Word or Two…

What word best describes mental illness?
Hope

What film has most influenced your thoughts on mental health?
A Beautiful Mind

How do you maintain a balanced lifestyle?
I take one day at a time.

Who is doing outstanding work in destigmatizing mental illness?
Rehabilitation Assistant Terry Williams, for organizing Suzuki Montréal concerts and educating community groups on mental health issues. "She's not afraid to take on new challenges."

In 125 years, will the Douglas still be here?
Yes, but more with more community-based care.

One word that describes the Douglas?
Always challenging