Photo: Kevin Earl Frankish is a Canadian television presenter and media personality. He co-hosted Breakfast Television Toronto on Citytv Toronto from 1991 to 2018 © Courtesy of Ontario Shores
Kevin will never forget his first panic attack. It happened live, on air.
For someone working in a public-facing role, the expectation to look right, say the right thing, and appear perfectly composed is a constant pressure, but in that moment, Kevin couldn’t hide what was happening.
“One complaint can outweigh a thousand compliments,” Kevin lamented. “People forget that those in the public eye are human too, with emotions, struggles, and vulnerabilities.”
The following day, Kevin decided to speak openly about the experience. What he didn’t expect was the overwhelming response: more than 15,000 emails from viewers sharing their own struggles with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.
So many people had been living quietly with mental health challenges, afraid to speak up.
“That response changed me,” Kevin said. “It made me realize just how many people were suffering in silence.”
Mental health advocates have long known that when one person speaks honestly about their struggles, it gives others permission to do the same. At Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, a public hospital dedicated to providing specialized mental health care, patient stories are a powerful way to break the stigma around mental illness.
Across Ontario and beyond, many people still hesitate to seek help because of fear or shame. By sharing real experiences, Ontario Shores helps remind people that they are not alone.
The Turning Point
That day in 2006 marked a turning point for Kevin, but he believes his mental health journey should have started much earlier. Like many people, Kevin grew up in a time when mental health simply wasn’t discussed openly. Stigma, misunderstanding, and silence prevented many from seeking help or even recognizing what they were experiencing.
After his first panic attack, Kevin began therapy and started medication. He was eventually diagnosed with severe depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and unipolar depression, the most common form of depression. Over time, he learned that recovery rarely comes from a single solution.
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“It was never just one thing that helped,” he explained. “It was the combination of therapy, education, support, and acceptance There is no miracle cure for mental illness. It’s a lifelong journey of understanding that your mental health will always be part of who you are—but it can, and will, get better. The more you know, the better you can cope.”
Finding Purpose at Ontario Shores
Kevin’s mental health journey changed his life in many ways, but joining the team at Ontario Shores has been especially rewarding.
“When the opportunity arose to join the team at Ontario Shores, I didn’t hesitate,” he said.
Located in Whitby, Ontario Shores is recognized for its innovative and compassionate approach to treatment, research, and recovery. The organization serves thousands of individuals each year through inpatient and outpatient programs that address a wide range of mental health conditions. The hospital’s approach focuses on holistic recovery, supporting patients not only clinically, but also emotionally, socially, and psychologically.
For Kevin, being part of this environment has been deeply meaningful. Every day, he works alongside clinicians, researchers, and advocates dedicated to improving mental health outcomes for patients and families. Having had firsthand experience with the power of patient stories, he also knows that openness is essential to fostering hope.
“Still today, we’re unlearning old beliefs,” he says. “We should be doing the opposite of what we were taught: to share, to cry, to listen, and to support one another without judgment.”
The more conversations society has about mental health, the easier it becomes for people to access the help they need.
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Revolutionary Care for Mental Health Ontario Shores has become a leader in mental health care by combining clinical expertise, innovative treatments, and patient-centred care.
The hospital provides specialized programs addressing conditions including depression and mood disorders, trauma and stress-related disorders, and geriatric mental health challenges, along with many more. Through research, education, and clinical practice, Ontario Shores continually works to improve treatment approaches and expand access to care.
But medical expertise is just one factor—what truly defines the organization is its commitment to dignity, compassion, and recovery for every patient. By continuing to share stories, support research, and expand access to care, organizations like Ontario Shores are helping reshape how society understands mental health.
“The word I hear most often here is hope,” Kevin shared. “And that, to me, is the heart of it all.”
Hope is what allows people facing mental illness to believe that recovery is possible. It’s what encourages someone to seek treatment, to open up to a loved one, or to take the first step toward healing.
“As long as there is hope,” he continued, “there is a path forward.”
Help Make Hope Possible
Mental illness can affect anyone—friends, family members, colleagues, and neighbours. But with the right support, recovery is possible. Ontario Shores continues to expand programs, research, and patient care to ensure more people can access life-changing mental health services.
You can help make that possible.
Help prevent the most devastating consequences of mental illness. Donate today: ontarioshores.ca/donate
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Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) is a public teaching hospital providing a range of specialized assessment and treatment services to those living with complex and serious mental illness.