Amy Sky
Believing that "that secrets only have power when they are secret," in 2006 Amy Sky went public with her own struggles with depression and postpartum psychosis, a severe form of postpartum depression. That same year, she agreed to become one of the faces of the Transforming Lives Public Awareness campaign sponsored by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, a decision that would prove to be transformative and pivotal for her.
As part of the campaign, giant posters of Sky were installed in bus shelters around Toronto. As she was absorbing the impact that her public revelation was having on her own life, a story came to her from a friend that would help cement her feelings about where she wanted to go with her career as a songwriter and performer. The friend told Sky about a woman who had been suffering from postpartum depression. As a result, her husband walked out, ending the marriage. The woman had reached such a point of despair that she had decided to take her own life. That dark day she saw Sky's poster and, instead of harming herself, she reached out to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto and found the help she needed.
That story crystallized things. "I realized that I had a choice," said Sky. "I've been blessed with a burden. If I can choose between doing music that just gets applause, or music that saves lives, for me there's no contest."
From an outsider's perspective, it seems like a natural evolution for this therapist's daughter. Friends and colleagues can tell you that even before her own struggles with mood disorders, Sky was an un-judgmental and deeply compassionate friend, with a canny insight into their issues. Millions of people struggle with mental health issues, but the stigma prevents them from talking about it, or from seeking help. But no one who knows her was surprised that Sky had the courage to go public and speak so openly about her own story.
The campaign had an unexpected effect. Since speaking out about her experience with mood disorders, Sky had developed parallel careers. She was suddenly not just a successful singer and a go-to songwriter, arranger, producer and actor, but now people were seeking her out to speak on issues of mental health.
And so while she was building a fan base through the usual channels of radio and video airplay, she was also building a loyal fan base of people who would write letters or come to shows and tell her how her music inspired them, or pulled them through a difficult time and uplifted them. She realized that even though it was starting with her songs, she wanted to go deeper and use her skills as a story teller and a performer to entertain and to help people take the steps to transform.
"If there's any way I can help lead people back to the life that depression and mania has taken from them, then that's what I'm going to do. I feel like I understand it because I have been there myself, and I have the gift of being able to communicate that. Going forward in life, I feel this is my path. I want to do it beautifully through art and music. I believe in the ability of the arts to help people heal."
Amy is not only active in music communities in Toronto, Nashville and Los Angeles. She also has lent her support to many charities including "The Parkinson's Foundation, Princess Margaret Hospital," National Ovarian Cancer Association, The Hospital for Sick Children, Easter Seals, MADD, Gilda's Club, Casey House, Covenant House, Ontario Child Abuse Prevention, and Zareinu. She was awarded the first ever CRIA Applause Award for her work testifying in Ottawa on behalf of artists' rights, which aided in the establishment of the historic Neighbouring Rights Royalty.
Believing that "that secrets only have power when they are secret," in 2006 Amy Sky went public with her own struggles with depression and postpartum psychosis, a severe form of postpartum depression. That same year, she agreed to become one of the faces of the Transforming Lives Public Awareness campaign sponsored by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, a decision that would prove to be transformative and pivotal for her.
As part of the campaign, giant posters of Sky were installed in bus shelters around Toronto. As she was absorbing the impact that her public revelation was having on her own life, a story came to her from a friend that would help cement her feelings about where she wanted to go with her career as a songwriter and performer. The friend told Sky about a woman who had been suffering from postpartum depression. As a result, her husband walked out, ending the marriage. The woman had reached such a point of despair that she had decided to take her own life. That dark day she saw Sky's poster and, instead of harming herself, she reached out to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto and found the help she needed.
That story crystallized things. "I realized that I had a choice," said Sky. "I've been blessed with a burden. If I can choose between doing music that just gets applause, or music that saves lives, for me there's no contest."
From an outsider's perspective, it seems like a natural evolution for this therapist's daughter. Friends and colleagues can tell you that even before her own struggles with mood disorders, Sky was an un-judgmental and deeply compassionate friend, with a canny insight into their issues. Millions of people struggle with mental health issues, but the stigma prevents them from talking about it, or from seeking help. But no one who knows her was surprised that Sky had the courage to go public and speak so openly about her own story.
The campaign had an unexpected effect. Since speaking out about her experience with mood disorders, Sky had developed parallel careers. She was suddenly not just a successful singer and a go-to songwriter, arranger, producer and actor, but now people were seeking her out to speak on issues of mental health.
And so while she was building a fan base through the usual channels of radio and video airplay, she was also building a loyal fan base of people who would write letters or come to shows and tell her how her music inspired them, or pulled them through a difficult time and uplifted them. She realized that even though it was starting with her songs, she wanted to go deeper and use her skills as a story teller and a performer to entertain and to help people take the steps to transform.
"If there's any way I can help lead people back to the life that depression and mania has taken from them, then that's what I'm going to do. I feel like I understand it because I have been there myself, and I have the gift of being able to communicate that. Going forward in life, I feel this is my path. I want to do it beautifully through art and music. I believe in the ability of the arts to help people heal."
Amy is not only active in music communities in Toronto, Nashville and Los Angeles. She also has lent her support to many charities including "The Parkinson's Foundation, Princess Margaret Hospital," National Ovarian Cancer Association, The Hospital for Sick Children, Easter Seals, MADD, Gilda's Club, Casey House, Covenant House, Ontario Child Abuse Prevention, and Zareinu. She was awarded the first ever CRIA Applause Award for her work testifying in Ottawa on behalf of artists' rights, which aided in the establishment of the historic Neighbouring Rights Royalty.
