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THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 19 ARTS FOCUS WATERLOO CHRONICLE ARTS FOCUS WATERLOO CHRONICLE A man on a mission Man's battle against clinical depression leads to a new song that hopes to help others By Bob Vrbanac Chronicle Sta� He was a man who thought he had everything going for him in life. He had a great upbringing, did well in school, married the girl of his dreams and had three beau- tiful sons to celebrate that bond. Chris Duchaine said he had 31 "blessed" years of health, happiness and success. He was working and commuting to Toronto and had the job that seemed to secure his future and the future of his family -- his wife Violette and sons Jonah, Sam and Charlie. But in the midst of all that happiness, a dark- ness crept in. It was debilitating and it was soul sucking and it left him gasping for air. When he was finally diagnosed on May 28, 2013, he was suffering from clinical depression and reaching out for the help he needed. "I would be lying if I said I met it with resil- ience and grace," said Duchaine in an email. "� e truth is, it broke me, brought me to my knees and robbed me of everything I loved." It took more than a month for Duchaine to get the type of counselling help he needed to tackle the demons that consumed him. He said it's still a battle he has to � ght each day. "� e healing process was painfully slow and to be perfectly honest, has yet to truly end," said Duchaine. "My greatest defence against it was, and still is, talking about it. "It seemed the more I told people about it, the less power it had over me." Duchaine wanted to share his experience with as many people su� ering from depression, but he wasn't sure what medium he could use to reach the most people. He thought of poetry or storytelling, but it was a childhood friend named Adam Kent that sug- gested that it may be best to tell it in a song. "I decided to write a song about my experi- ence," said Duchaine. "I was determined to tell the entire world how I felt, and in the process, hopefully distance myself from this monster of mine, even if only for a little while." The results are a song called The Man Between, and over the past year it was written and recorded with his friend Kent and Stephen Jakubaitis, who once played in a band with Kent called Any Other Day. The song was released in time for Mental Health Week, last week, on iTunes and Google Play, and 100 per cent of the proceeds will be donated to the Qualia Counselling Centre in Kitchener where Duchaine got the intervention he needed. "I'm hoping to help people get the help I got," said Duchaine. "I don't want them to have to wait weeks to get treatment, especially when they're in crisis." He said the mental health system is lacking resources and is underserviced locally, and is too slow and sometimes too expensive to get people the help they need in a timely manner. � e quick- er people can get treatment, the quicker they can get back on their feet. "� e money will be used to help people deal- ing with crisis get the help they need immediately through counselling, because it's never too soon to start feeling like your old self again," said Duch- aine. "It was brave and amazing that Chris decided to share his story in this way," said Kent. "Music has a way to be able to connect on many levels, and this song lets people know they're not alone in their struggles." Kent said Duchaine's story even inspired he and Jakubaitis to take up music again and put their talents toward a worthwhile project. It had been a few years since the two local musicians had done any new music. Life had gotten in the way of their passion for playing. "We did the whole family thing and kind of got caught up in that, and making a living and what not," said Kent. "But music was still in the back- ground and we were looking to bring it to the fore once more and this project came along." Kent said the song really has a chance to make a difference in someone's life and was all the motivation he needed to lend his vocal talents to it. "It has the potential to share some truths," said Kent. Jakubaitis, who played and produced the � nal product, also said it was a ful� lling experience in proving the power of music. "It's a great experience to be a part of it from a musical experience, but also to see Chris heal along with the experience of seeing the song come to life," said Jakubaitis. "It's been nothing but posi- tive vibes from it and it's helped rekindle that � re for me that was almost extinguished, musically speaking. "It's been a cathartic experience for Chris and therapy for him, but he's also helped � nd my love of music -- it's been amazing." Jakubaitis said the song is already getting a reaction online from those who have heard it, especially those going through their own mental health struggles. "Someone was struggling and (in a comment) said that it helped them," he said. "It's amazing how a piece of music can lift someone's spirit." Adam Kent, Chris Duchaine and Stephen Jakubaitis have come together to record a song called The Man Between. The song and lyrics are about Duchaine's struggle with clinical depression and proceeds are going to help other people at the Qualia Counselling Centre in Kitchener. SUBMITTED PHOTO Our EASIER, all-new for 2017 NOmINAtIONS SItE IS NOW OPEN! Official voting for the 2017 Winners commences June 1, 2017 www.waterlooreaderschoice.ca