Sherri Matsumoto

Meet Sherri Matsumoto. Sherri is a forty-six year old Japanese Canadian woman from Winnipeg who enjoys music, writing, painting, and poetry.  She is a team member of the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society where she gives presentations and co-facilitates a workshop for children who have family members living with a mental illness.  At the age of 14, Sherri was diagnosed with a mental illness, which was later identified as schizophrenia.  Sherri spent many years in denial of this diagnosis, but realized she was mentally ill and needed assistance while in institutionalized care. She has a very supportive family and friends and continues to be a strong advocate within the mental health community promoting recovery oriented services.  Sherri is courageously telling her story to help reduce stigma so that people who live with a mental illness are seen for who they are, and not for the illness they have.  One of Sherri’s mottos is, “Respect never goes out of style, so don’t stop using it.” Recovery is Possible.