Oct 6, 2025

Mental Health, Vision Loss, and the Power of Connection

Fighting Blindness Canada’s Young Leaders Program recently hosted a powerful webinar exploring how vision loss and mental health intersect. The discussion brought together three speakers who offered both professional expertise and personal lived experience: Lisa Derencinovic, a counsellor specializing in grief, wellness, and disability; Cayla Farmer, a therapist and disability advocate known for her educational YouTube channel Cayla with a C; and Melanie Marsden, a traditional counsellor at Anishnawbe Health Toronto and long-time social worker.

Though their paths were different, their stories revealed common threads—struggles with isolation and stigma, the importance of community, and the gradual journey toward self-acceptance.

Together, they painted a picture of strength and offered strategies to support mental health while living with vision loss.

Facing Vision Loss: Early Struggles

All three speakers described how their diagnoses shaped their mental health in childhood and adolescence.

For Cayla, who grew up trying to conceal her vision impairment in public school, denial and anxiety were constant companions. Being the only visually impaired student she knew left her feeling isolated, and she admitted that her efforts to appear sighted often made her feel even more awkward.

Melanie, who was born premature and lost vision early in life, also reflected on the absence of meaningful mental health support in her youth. In her case, family trauma and the “just cope and carry on” mindset of the time meant she pushed down her feelings for years before recognizing the weight she was carrying.

Lisa’s journey followed a similar arc. For years, she carried her white cane hidden in her backpack, reluctant to accept what it symbolized. It was only when she began university and found herself overwhelmed by inaccessible buildings and long commutes that she reached out for orientation training and began to openly navigate life as a blind person.

These stories highlighted a shared truth: vision loss often brings not just physical challenges, but emotional ones, including loneliness, denial, and grief.

Tools for Healing and Growth

As adults, each speaker developed strategies that helped them cope and thrive.
For Cayla, therapy became a cornerstone. As both a therapist herself and a client, she emphasized that professional support allowed her to process experiences in ways she hadn’t expected. She encouraged others not to give up if the first counsellor isn’t the right fit, likening the process to “dating”—sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right match.

Melanie emphasized the role of community, both within the blind community and her Indigenous community. She described how ceremony, cultural connection, and peer support have helped her find grounding and healing. Her perspective underscored that mental health tools are not one-size-fits-all—they must reflect who we are and where we come from.

Lisa brought another dimension to the discussion, reflecting on the role of mindset and systemic awareness. She spoke about the value of humor, flexibility, and reframing mistakes as learning opportunities. But she also stressed the importance of recognizing broader societal barriers—like ableism—and understanding what is, and isn’t, within one’s control. That awareness, she noted, can ease the tendency to blame oneself for challenges that stem from external systems.
Across their stories, practical tools emerged: counselling, community, cultural connection, mindfulness, humor, and finding joy in everyday activities like cooking, dancing, or spending time with loved ones.

Messages of Hope

The panelists closed by offering advice to young people navigating similar challenges.
Lisa’s message was one of reassurance: “You’re going to get through this. Everything will be okay, and maybe it’s not going to be what you expect, but it’ll be okay. Find the small wins and lean on your community.”

Cayla encouraged openness and persistence: “Go to therapy. And if one therapist isn’t the right fit, find another. Also, stop pretending you’re not blind. I learned that owning it is far better than hiding it.”

Melanie urged honesty and connection: “Have the conversation. Don’t hide your struggles. Mental health is real, and when combined with vision loss it can be even more complicated—and you’re not alone.”

Their messages carried a common theme: you don’t have to go through this alone. It means reaching out, leaning on others, and allowing oneself to grow through vulnerability.

Moving Forward Together

What made this conversation so powerful was its blend of candor and hope. Each speaker spoke openly about hardship, but their stories were not defined by it. Instead, they revealed the ways that community, therapy, and acceptance can transform lives.

The discussion was also a reminder that vision loss and mental health cannot be separated from the broader social context. Barriers—whether physical, cultural, or systemic—shape experiences in profound ways. Recognizing both dimensions opens space for compassion, not just for oneself but for others as well.

Above all, the webinar underscored that while the journey with vision loss is not easy, it is not one walked alone. With the right supports—whether professional counselling, cultural connection, or community belonging—people can find strength, joy, and meaning.

As one participant reflected, taking the first step toward self-care is often the hardest. But as the stories of Lisa, Cayla, and Melanie show, those steps can lead to an increased sense of purpose, growth, and hope.

Three Takeaways from the Panel

• Therapy helps: Counselling can provide new ways to process experiences. Don’t be afraid to switch therapists if it’s not the right fit.
• Community matters: Connection—whether through peers, culture, or family—provides strength and support.
• Acceptance takes time: Moving from denial to self-acceptance is a journey, and it opens the door to inner strength and confidence.