For most of his life, Otello has been a guiding light — supporting others as a minister while building a career as a designer. But when the world faced the challenges of COVID-19, his own light began to fade. The devasting loss of his mother and cousin left him overwhelmed and struggling to cope. Without them, he felt isolated, struggling to find meaning in his days. The darkness grew heavier, and despair settled in. His faith, once a source of light, felt distant.
The weight of Otello’s struggles became unbearable, until, in a moment of desperation, his wife brought him to the Magna Emergency Department at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, where a compassionate psychiatrist helped him take his first step toward healing. Soon after, Otello was admitted to the Stepping Stones Mental Health Day Hospital, an intensive group therapy program offering expert care a path forward.
At first, he was not sure that he could do it. But with his wife’s encouragement and the support of the Stepping Stones team, Otello began to feel the warmth of hope again. In the program, he learned strategies to manage his mental health and found comfort in sharing his journey with others.
“Stepping Stones gave me the tools to move forward and believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel” Otello shares.
Otello continued his journey through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital. Today, he is rebuilding his life and finding new ways to help others see the light in their own darkest moments.