Eric Othot opened his apartment Tuesday to show it off to politicians and reporters.

Spacious, bright and with an enviable view of the North Shore mountains, the place has given the 61-year-old part-time janitor some peace and stability in a life mired in mental illness.

“That’s all I’ve wanted is to have a place of my own,” said Othot, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the 1970s and suffers from depression. “For me, it’s very, very important. I don’t go out very much.”

He shared his story with the Courier after posing for photographs in his apartment with Vancouver-Fairview Liberal MLA Margaret MacDiarmid, Richmond Conservative MP Alice Wong and Dr. Peter Gibson, Othot’s former psychiatrist.

Othot’s visitors joined Vision Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang to officially open the 18-suite apartment complex in the 600-block Commercial Drive, across from Nick’s Spaghetti House and the Raja Cinema.

“For me, this is really an exciting day just to know we have 18 more people who are no longer going to have to worry about anything but getting better,” said Jang, who is a professor of psychiatry at the University of B.C. and a member of a committee of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

The building received funding from three levels of government and was renovated to provide affordable rental housing for people with mental health issues. Coast Mental Health owns and operates the building and provides tenants with access to doctors and counsellors to help with recovery.

“I don’t need somebody to help me every day, somebody to be on call,” Othot said. “But things can go wrong pretty quick and I know I have the support here. If I was completely by myself, I wouldn’t feel secure at all.”

Originally from Quebec, Othot ventured west in 1976 to plant trees. He lasted eight seasons but found any other full-time work too stressful and often led to lengthy stays in hospital.

Misdiagnosed as schizophrenic and given a series of medications over the years, it’s only recently that a proper combination of medication has stabilized his condition, although he says depression is still a concern.

Being stabilized has allowed Othot to work part-time as a janitor, a job he found with help from Coast Mental Health. It’s helped his self-esteem and given him purpose, even if it’s only for a couple of hours a day. “I’m on my second contract right now,” he said. “My recovery is going up and up. There’s no stopping… I feel really good about the future.”

The 1960s era building required extensive renovations when Coast Mental Health bought it in 2009.The total cost of the project, including purchase price and renovations, was $2.9 million.

“All of us believe strongly in the power of housing like this,” MacDiarmid said. “We know what a difference it can make to people’s lives. We know that affordable housing for people can make all the difference. People talk about a game changer. This can be something that can be life changing.”

mhowell@vancourier.com

Twitter: @Howellings