As Pauline Phillips and Norman Warhurst settle into a pair of comfortable armchairs in a quiet corner of the Stepping Stone Community Services Society’s clubhouse, each wears a bright smile and an open expression.

The laughs come easy and often as the two talk about what brought each of them to the clubhouse on Michaud Crescent.

Both are comfortable discussing their history of mental illness, the reason they were referred to the Langley agency, but they’re more interested in talking about what their involvement with the society has given them— a new lease on life.

Phillips was born in Guyana (north of Brazil) and came to Canada 31 years ago.

In 1999, she was diagnosed with depression, but looking back, she said her symptoms were apparent even in childhood, when her quiet and reserved personality began to take shape.

As an adult in Canada, Phillips got to the point when her only regular social contact was with her sister-in-law.

She isolated herself, slept all day and “tried to avoid life.”

She couldn’t visualize herself two days down the road, never mind see herself in recovery.

“It wasn’t a life. It was existence,” she said.

Referred to Stepping Stone, Phillips took a giant leap of faith and walked through the door 10 years ago.

“I was very shy, I didn’t talk to anybody. I sat around and blended into the furniture,” she recalled.

One day, the agency’s program director asked Phillips if she’d like to help out with a bit of computer work, filling out membership stat sheets.

“It started with that. Then I took the opportunity to do art classes — oil painting. I really enjoyed it.”

Day by day, Phillips came out of her shell and made friends with other Stepping Stone members.

“It was a pleasant experience, walking in the door and the staff addressing me by name. It made me feel kind of special.”

One good experience would invariably lead to another.

“The atmosphere creates a sort of voluntary participation,” she said.

”It’s comfortable. It’s a very safe place to open up.

“I feel confident here.”

About five years ago, Phillips took some training in income tax preparation and began helping other members file their taxes.

“I met members on a one-to-one basis, and now I’m just like a social butterfly,” she laughed.

Today, she’s employed as a peer support worker in the mental health field.

“It’s all due to my being here,” said Phillips. “The opportunities are endless.

“I’ve come a long way. I never thought I’d be happy.”

Warhurst’s experiences prior to coming to Stepping Stone were somewhat different from Phillips’ but his enthusiasm for the program is on par with hers.

Referred through the Langley psychiatric outpatient program at LMH, he has only been coming to Stepping Stone for about two and one- half years. In that time, he’s made his mark, developing and overseeing a recycling program in the clubhouse, helping out in the kitchen with the washing up and being “basically a fixture” in the building.

“I spend a bit of time on the computer, relax in the lounge. I write poetry,” said the self-employed man, who owns a small landscaping business.

“My customers — it’s good for them to read and to know,” he said of his decision to speak publicly about his illness.

“Mental illness has to be out there (talked about). It’s a disease, like diabetes or cancer.”

But things weren’t always so positive for Warhurst, who, like Phillips, has been diagnosed with depression.

Homeless for two extended periods of time, he found himself sleeping in hallways and once joined a fitness club so that he had somewhere to shower.

“I always felt judged. You hear the comments, you’re not accepted. You have to keep bouncing from place to place.”

By contrast, he said, “Stepping Stone is a place where you walk in, and no matter who you are, you’re welcome.”

About a year ago, Warhurst had what he describes as a mental breakdown.

“Fortunately, I was here (at the clubhouse) when it happened. One of the other members could see I was not myself.”

Stepping Stone staff arranged to have him taken to hospital and visited him regularly during the five weeks he was admitted.

They’ve given him rides into Vancouver for medical appointments and helped him find a place to live.

“It’s not just your emotional needs (that are met),” Warhurst said.

“It’s whatever you need.”