Shae Therrien knows how frightening it can be when one’s own mind no longer feels safe. He has experienced over a dozen hospital stays related to his mental health; each one marked a challenging chapter in a life shaped by bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, substance use, survival and, eventually, healing.

Shae’s first hospitalization in Weyburn in 1998 is a blur to him. He spent six months there and received his first electroconvulsive therapy treatment (ECT), a therapy that uses small electric currents to stimulate the brain. The treatment helped his mind break free from terrible thoughts, but healing did not come all at o

After he was discharged, Shae was distrustful of the doctors and returned to what he knew at the time – drugs and alcohol. He had no plans for his mental health beyond one grim resolution: he would not go back to the hospital, and if the depression returned, he planned to end his own life.

Three years later, after a work-related back injury, Shae was living with his sister and struggling deeply. By the time he was admitted to the Adult Inpatient Mental Health Unit at the Regina General Hospital after months of decline, he was suicidal.

It was also the first time he experienced manic-depressive episodes. Shae remembers a terrifying energy taking over. His thoughts came rapidly as if they were popping and vibrating: euphoric at first and then overwhelming to the point of feeling godlike. Then depression came crashing down, causing him to feel like his body was shutting down.

In those moments, Shae felt hopeless. Yet, beneath the fear and exhaustion, he discovered a part of himself that kept reaching for life.

“I was hardwired for survival,” he says.

Over time, Shae began to understand his illness. He learned that treatment takes time, that there was always someone to talk to, and that needing hospital care did not mean he failed.

By 2010, he was living on his own in Regina and had learned to be kind to himself. Even though he was hospitalized again at the Regina General Hospital in 2021, after personal stress triggered hypomania that heightened his mood abnormally, Shae left more confident, informed and reassured than ever. He received the care that he needed most, saw compassionate people who met him where he was, and built meaningful relationships with them.

Today, at 44, Shae says life is good. He sees his psychiatrist at the Mental Health Unit every three months and relies on structure, medication, diet, sleep and exercise to stay healthy. He accepts himself, his past and his condition.

“The Unit has always been there for me,” says Shae. “They always help me come out with my head above water.”

Shae’s story is a reminder that mental illness, though often invisible, remains a crucial part of our health care. Compassionate care is available right here at home, helping people across southern Saskatchewan find hope again. This year, the Foundation is investing $300,000 in the Inpatient Mental Health Unit to make it safer and more welcoming to patients.

“Shae’s story demonstrates the importance of our commitment to mental health care,” says Lisa Green, senior vice president, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “Because of the generosity of our donors, we can help ensure care is there for patients and families during challenging moments, offering safety, support and hope when they need it most.”