When Kristian Binder lost a third grandparent in the space of a few months, he was thousands of kilometres from home at a rehab facility in Alberta.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a really tough time. I fell off the wagon and they kicked me out,SA国际影视传媒� recalled the 37-year-old, who had exhausted all options in his hometown of Inuvik to help deal with anxieties that fuelled a reliance on alcohol.

SA国际影视传媒�I started with the hospital, then I went to counselling and it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 too effective for me, I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 really find it was helping,SA国际影视传媒� said Binder. SA国际影视传媒淪o in 2016 I was referred to a place in Calgary.SA国际影视传媒�

For Binder, Calgary was a mixed bag SA国际影视传媒� certain aspects of the program proved worthwhile and others ultimately contributed to his ejection.

SA国际影视传媒淓very night, before everyone went to bed, all the guys would sit around in a guided discussion and I felt that really helpful to be able to open up. That aspect was huge for me, being able to open up and say SA国际影视传媒榯his is what I struggle with,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hat was incredibly beneficial.SA国际影视传媒�

But BinderSA国际影视传媒檚 obligations as a client also required him to venture into the city for outside programming and volunteer work, activities Binder found only aggravated his anxiety.

SA国际影视传媒�You had to volunteer at a bingo hall twice a week to fundraise for the facility. One night I had a huge panic attack and I had to leave. It was super stressful,SA国际影视传媒� he recalled. SA国际影视传媒�I took away a lot of good things from Calgary, but some things were difficult.SA国际影视传媒�

As a seasoned traveller, Binder would have normally embraced outside experiences, but rehab and the sea change he faced was the furthest thing from jetting off to attend a rock concert, one of his favourite pastimes.

SA国际影视传媒�ISA国际影视传媒檝e been overseas and travelled all the time, but for something that important and for lack of a better word, intimate, like going to addictions treatment, it was a lot to take in,SA国际影视传媒� said Binder. SA国际影视传媒淧eople were saying if you have to change your life, you have to change everything. It was a philosophy that didn't work for me, and leads to me to thinking that if there were more services, or resources in Inuvik it would be easier to transition.SA国际影视传媒�

Booted from the program in Calgary, upon returning home Binder slipped into old habits of dulling his anxieties with alcohol; a pattern of behaviour he developed at an early age.

SA国际影视传媒淚f I look back all the way to when I was in junior high or high school, I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 feel like I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 fit in. Of course I had good friends and got along with people well but I felt less and less comfortable in social situations,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hat whole liquid courage mentality of having a few drinks before going to a party, it turned into more and more.SA国际影视传媒�

In July of 2017, Binder attempted to kill himself by overdosing on prescription drugs.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of people thought I was flaky,SA国际影视传媒� said Binder. SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to be that guy ... the whole suicide attempt was everything coming to a head.SA国际影视传媒�

Today Binder feels more confident about managing his anxiety but acknowledges SA国际影视传媒渢he difficulties in starting the process of getting help.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淎fter last summer, I started to see a doctor regularly who I talked to about my view of things and what I felt the problems were and he listened to me,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 started taking medication every day and did other things to minimize stress.SA国际影视传媒�

Binder said he and his doctor monitored his progress on the medication, SA国际影视传媒渨e met and talked about it and how I was feeling. We decided that itSA国际影视传媒檚 helpful for me.SA国际影视传媒�

These days, Binder spends his free time working at his photography business and speaking openly about his challenges on Facebook. Asked why he puts his feelings out on social media, Binder said, SA国际影视传媒淔acebook is kind of an extension of being in that room in Calgary, and it feels great to get some things off my chest.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not my intent to make a statement, itSA国际影视传媒檚 my own selfish thing to put that out there because it helps me.SA国际影视传媒�

Binder is also very thankful for the comfort and encouragement of friends and family, as well as backing heSA国际影视传媒檚 received from his GNWT co-workers. SA国际影视传媒淗aving the support in the workplace is important and my office was incredibly supportive.SA国际影视传媒�

Reflecting on his time in Calgary, Binder said guided discussion groups in northern communities could go a long way toward reducing the stigma of mental health and addiction and provide a space where people can talk openly and learn each otherSA国际影视传媒檚 experiences.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey could have some local options, a place say once-a-month, to have an honest discussion where you find out other people are having similar struggles, where you can learn that taking medication isnSA国际影视传媒檛 a bad thing,SA国际影视传媒� said Binder.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of people have told me they donSA国际影视传媒檛 talk about these things because of the implications it could have on their professional and private life and I understand that, but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what got me into trouble in the first place,SA国际影视传媒� said Binder. SA国际影视传媒淚 have nothing to lose by being honest. What could people do to me at this point? Yeah, I have mental health problems, but so what. ISA国际影视传媒檓 dealing with it, so what could possibly be bad about that?SA国际影视传媒�