As a journalist and documentary maker, Luke Galati says he’s learned that good storytelling has a through line.
“ It has something that takes you from the beginning, the middle to the end,” he said.
In the two documentaries Galati has made about mental health, he says he’s been that through line.
“Using myself as the vehicle and my experience to then speak to other people and then use some of the other skills that I’ve developed, like interviewing, like incorporating music, soundbites and storytelling, it’s created a way for me to use the best parts of my education with also my passion and with something that I think will help Canadians and hopefully people around the world.”
Galati lives with bipolar disorder. He spoke with People First Radio about some of his experiences both personal and professional with the condition. He put together an audio documentary about bipolar called Dreaming of Better. He says the experience re-affirmed for him the possibility of leading a successful life.
“I think that sometimes when people hear bipolar, they think like, ‘oh, they’re crazy forever and they’re doomed,'” he said. “But I saw actually the exact opposite.”
“You have to learn how to cope a little bit, but you know, you can be incredibly creative, you can be incredibly professional, you can be a lawyer, you can be a filmmaker, you can be anything you want. I just think you just gotta take that extra mile to really take care of yourself and know what your triggers are.”
Galati recently shared a first person perspective of a three month hospital stay in the psychiatric ward he went through in 2023 in a piece for CBC.
“ When I was going to the hospital, when I was struggling with my mental health, I didn’t really know what to expect,” he said.
Galati says he’d want someone going into that same experience to know that it’s one they can make it through to the other side of.
“I think I’d want them to know just like this is temporary, you know?” He said. “I think like if you’d never like been there before and you’re being held like against your will or even if you do consent, I think just knowing hey, this is temporary, It’s not a forever thing and it’s something that you know, you can get through.”
“I also hope that someone in that situation has some kind of family, friends or support who can visit them.”
Galati says he’d want friends and family members of people going through a hospital stay to know that food can make a big difference. He remembers a time his uncle brought him some pizza.
“ It was like the greatest thing ever.”
Listen to the full interview above for more on Galati’s experiences.
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