Mental health scholarships to reward leadership, advocacy

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This article was published 11/04/2018 (2204 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The family of a Manitoba man who died by suicide is surprised and excited to hear a new award will bear their loved one’s name, and honour youth who display leadership in mental health advocacy.

The Mark Dickof Memorial Scholarship Award will be given to two high school students between the ages of 14 and 18 — one who lives in rural or northern Manitoba, and one who lives in an urban area.

The $250 prizes are being jointly awarded this year by Winnipeg Coun. Brian Mayes, the Manitoba School Boards Association and the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

“I thought it was a really lovely tribute to my brother,” Karen Hochman said.

Mark Dickof grew up in Winnipeg and lived most of his life in the city, studying English at the University of Manitoba and hoping to attend Oxford University for graduate studies. He died by suicide in 1992 at age 30, after living with schizophrenia.

“He was really intelligent, and kind, and sort of self-contained. He was the sort of person who really tried to be a good person and was very loving toward his family,” his sister said.

Dickof was a childhood friend of Mayes. They grew up in the same suburb, their moms were teachers and they shared the same birthday, the St. Vital ward councillor said.

“I feel this sort of highlights to me the chance element in life, the vagaries of life that I’ve been pretty lucky, frankly,” Mayes said.

“Here’s someone born the exact same day as me who didn’t have those breaks. So I’m trying to do what I can to honour him and his memory and try to do something to maybe help out with this issue of mental health.”

Hochman said the winners of the award could promote mental health through coursework, volunteerism or peer counselling, possibly using art, writing or poetry, too.

“I think it could be any variety of different things, but I would like to see (the award winners) destigmatizing mental illness, supporting people and going against bullying and things like that,” she said.

Students looking to apply for the awards need to submit a 500-word essay and one letter of reference by April 30 to the Manitoba School Boards Association.

jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @_jessbu