Be Yourself. Happy. Healthy. Hopeful.

BANA Health Educator, Stephani Fenkanyn connects with former CFL footballer and mental health advocate, Frank Renaud.

Frank Renaud speaks very openly and candidly about how he has been dealing with mental health struggles throughout his whole life. He was first diagnosed with anxiety and depression in high school, and then after a manic episode in 2018, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Frank describes himself as a journey man and now views his mental health diagnoses as a gift. Frank was linebacker who played at the University of Windsor and then professionally with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger Cats. After two knee injuries, his football career came to an end and he played his last game in 2018.

Frank and Stephani discuss viewing the mental health spectrum as more neutral, the evolution of your own self-care practices, what is a ‘self-care soup’ and how energy plays a role in elevating your mood. They talk about how the ego aims to protect us against being vulnerable, facing and questioning our own conditioning, the importance of listening to understand as a caregiver and being of service to self before taking care of others. The conversation continues to cover how we are wearing masks on social media and how the online environment perpetuates fear and lack-based feelings, and they finish by touching upon the power of self-love.

To learn more about Frank, follow him on social media at @frankeyrenaud.