Valerie Pringle

Valerie will describe how she began her career in journalism on radio and television while balancing a busy home life with three children.  She will describe the arc that led her from broadcasting to the non-for-profit world where she now volunteers as a Board Member and fundraiser and who her heroes and inspiration have been.  How do we manage and embrace change and who are the examples of this? She will talk about making transitions and figuring out when to leave and what is worth spending your time on.

Valerie shares the five favourite interviews she’s conducted in her extensive career with some of the world’s most celebrated personalities in the fields of television, the arts, religion and social activism. Valerie describes the lessons and insights she took away from these conversations, and how we can all learn from their words of wisdom. She also relates stories of the wonderful and not-so-wonderful people she interviewed and why we all need (s)heroes in our lives.

Valerie explains why she chose to become a mental health advocate:
• What was her daughter Catherine’s experience of mental illness?
• How did she get help and how does her daughter look back on the experience now?
• What has Valerie learned from helping her daughter after being what she describes as “pretty clueless” for many years as to what Catherine was experiencing?
• Why does she feel people are hungering for honesty and openness as stigma around mental illness is as damaging as ever?
• Why is the shame so great and what will make it better?
• What are the most important lessons she has learned about dealing with mental illness and addiction?

Valerie speaks with honesty, concern and humour about going public about mental illness and the difference it has made in her life, and shares four key pieces of advice for those suffering in mental illness or supporting loved ones as they go through it. Valerie’s daughter, Catherine, joins her for this talk when she is available.