PICKERING — For music teacher Paula Walker, her journey managing attention deficit disorder (ADD) and depression began when she was a young girl. Since then, Walker has overcome obstacles through perseverance, optimism and doing what she loves — creating music.
“Probably around the age of hormones, if you will, I was starting to notice I was suffering with sadness and very sensitive emotions,” says Walker. “At the age of 14, I started to have suicidal thoughts and, you know, constantly trying to prove I was worthy of the breath of life.”
Today, Walker has been a teacher for 10 years and currently teaches music at Sir J.A. Macdonald Public School in Pickering. For the first time ever, she will be showcasing her talents and those of her students at One Brave Night for Mental Health, a talent show hosted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
One Brave Night for Mental Health is a challenge for individuals to showcase their hidden talents in the spotlight while also raising funds to support mental health.
Walker and her students will be presenting a musical she wrote called Lucy and Maayaa, which aims to help children with mental health and children who have neuro-diversities and challenges fit in.
“It actually was inspired by the work that I’ve done with children, things I picked up on with kids being bullied and suffering with mental health issues themselves,” says Walker. “I decided I would write a musical to help them reach out and understand each other.”
Some of the characters are based on her students, such as a boy named Evan who has ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). The two main characters represent two parts of Walker herself, with Lucy being the side of her with ADD and low self-esteem, while Maayaa manages her depression with optimism.
Walker says that, aside from encouraging students, another driving force behind her musical is the potential to save lives.
“Suicide is at an extremely high statistical rate, and I have open conversation with my students all the time,” says Walker. “I want to spare as many lives as I can, as they come into my presence. This campaign is an amazing opportunity.”
The story centres on students with mental health issues and a group of bullies who struggle with not having the same attention as the other students. The musical addresses many topics, including life lessons and being labelled.
Lucy and Maayaa incorporates both singing and spoken poetry. It consists of 22 songs and takes more than two hours to present, so Walker and her students will be presenting only 17 of the most “prevalent” songs, along with their background and significance.
The musical will be presented from 3 to 5 p.m. on May 5 at the Music Hall Concert Theatre in Oshawa. However, Walker is furthering her efforts by arranging an assembly at her school on May 10. Students are encouraged to donate two dollars or more to aid mental health.
“Mental health is health. This is my small contribution to help CAMH and as many kids as I can,” says Walker.
For more information on how to register, visit give.camh.ca or donate directly to Walker’s campaign page, at give.camh.ca/site/TR/OBN/OneBraveNight?px=1179996&pg=personal&fr_id=1130.
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