Profile - Grant Cooper
Grant Cooper, Mental Health Promoter, Like Minds, Like Mine/Tangata Waiora Leadership
Grant Cooper works with tangata whaiora/consumer networks in the South Island to support the development of leaders in the sector. Prior to coming to work for the foundation, Grant worked at the Mental Health Education and Resource Centre (MHERC) in Christchurch as a librarian. He is well known throughout the Christchurch mental health community.
Grant's ‘real' story
Grant Cooper believes that depression will always be a part of his life, but says he now has ‘real dreams' to look forward to.
Grant was diagnosed with chronic depression after he finished university, but he says looking back, there were earlier signs.
"Although I did well at school, there were underlying things that were never addressed. People don't tend to look beyond the surface.
"Everyone thinks that depression is when you feel really sad, but I just had a feeling of numbness, and no sense of a future.
"I had studied economics at university, but had no excitement about the future. I felt lethargic, and didn't feel any ambition at all."
Since being diagnosed, Grant has tried a range of treatments, such as counselling, psychotherapy, and medication.
He says the results have been good - his self esteem has greatly improved, he has dreams and visions of the future, and views the future with excitement.
"Having my first real dreams - a house by the sea, being married with children and having a dog - was a breakthrough, as I was actually looking forward to something."
You can read more about my story in the Out of the Blue section of this website.
In December, Grant was interviewed by NZ Woman's Weekly as part of the Movember campaign and to raise awareness about mental health. The following article and photo is courtesy of New Zealand Woman's Weekly (published 1 December 2008).
A close shave: growing a moustached for Movember has special significance for Grant Cooper
By Vicky Tyler
Plagued with suicidal feelings and unable to hold down a job, Grant Cooper couldn't understand why he felt so hopeless.
The answer finally came when Grant (41) was diagnosed with chronic depression.
Now married with children - Ryan (2) and stepdaughter Stephanie (21) - and working for the Mental Health Foundation in Christchurch, Grant is growing a moustache for the first time in his life as part of Movember, which is helping to raise awareness of mental-health issues.
Knowing first hand what it's like to live with depression, Grant is able to help guide others out of the darkness.
"It was like a feeling of numbness. It wasn't just feeling down all the time, it was not feeling anything at all. I never attempted suicide but I cam pretty close.
"I would only last three months in a job, then I would get stressed and think ‘I can't take this ant more' but that was because of the underlying depression."
Grant has accepted that he may have to take antidepressants for the rest of his life.
"It's not a complete solution in itself. Other things that have helped have been counselling, exercise and weight management, and my Christian faith is important to me too," says Grant.
"I also find keeping a journal helpful," he adds. "Add my partner Diane is very supportive and a great listener."
Grant says support from his wife Diane gets him through the dark times (Photographer: John McCombe)
Living with a depressed person can be difficult, but Diane (41) says her seven-year relationship with Grant is the best she's ever had, even if his depression nearly ended their romance at one point.
"We'd been seeing each other for about a year when we split up for a couple of months," says Diane. "Grant just said to me, ‘I can't cope', but I didn't see it coming because he's always hidden his depression."
Grant and Diane married five years ago and Diane has now become tuned in to his depressed times.
"When Grant is having a bad day, he's quiet. Other people wouldn't pick it."
She's proud of Grant's participation in Movember, which is raising money for the Cancer Society and the Mental Health Foundation.
Diane admits moustaches aren't a look she likes, but fortunately Grant will be getting out his razor on 1 December. "I'll be pleased when it's gone," she laughs.
Grant isn't wild about his new look either: "I'm not really a moustache connoisseur. I don't think it really suits me, but it's for a great cause."
The Mental Health Foundation's Out of the Blue campaign will be a Movember recipient again in 2009. Go to www.movember.co.nz for more information about the campaign.
