One in five Nova Scotians live with mental health issues. However, when you factor in siblings, spouses, friends, and co-workers, according to Lisa Mills, mental health touches us all. As president and Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) of Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, Mills knows there is a stigma surrounding mental illness that forces thousands to suffer in silence.

“It’s one of those health care issues that is highly misunderstood and not in the public eye,” Mills says. “When you think of people living with mental illness, the stigma is the biggest issue because public education and public awareness needs to be enhanced.”

Raising money to fund grant programs through charitable events is the foundations biggest step forward in combating the negative stereotypes around mental illness while also providing help for those who are suffering.

For the past nine years, Mental Health of Nova Scotia has proudly presented A Different Stage of Mind, a variety show that showcases talent from around the community.

It’s an evening where common community members are morphed into stars and rifle through their Rolodex to raise a minimum of $40,000.

“It never ceases to amaze me,” Mills explains of the event, which is back on Friday at 8 p.m. at the World Trade and Convention Centre. “The amount of support and the number of individuals willing to forward from the community and say, ‘I’m willing to put myself out there for somebody else’”.

This year includes CEO of Doctors Nova Scotia Nancy MacCready-Williams as the great Barbara Streisand; Stewart McKelvey Partner Geoff Machum, who along with his sons Matthew and Andrew, will Rock You as Queen; the comedic genius of Source Security founder and owner Ron Lovett; the Women for Mental Health choir; and myself as the great Carole King.

We are honoured to participate in such an amazing event and hope that if talent doesn’t pay, pity will.