Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister of Health and Social Services has already delivered her Minister’s statement, this is Mental Wellness Week. It is encouraging that so much more awareness today is being brought to this topic of mental wellness. When we see Olympic athletes like Clara Hughes in a media public service announcement talking about her struggle with depression, that was once considered something to be shrouded in secrecy can now be talked about openly.
As a young mother I suffered with postpartum depression and anxiety. Unless you have experienced depression, it’s very difficult to understand. It’s not something you can just snap out of. Although it’s so frustrating for people who are around you and love you and support you to want to say snap out of it because they see you suffering, you cannot always just snap out of it by yourself.
When you’re in the depths of depression, it’s hard to think outside of it. When you’re outside of it and moved beyond it, it’s hard to imagine what it was like being in it. It is such a surreal illness.
When I was diagnosed I was referred to a specialist who, through our discussions, was able to determine that I had a genetic predisposition to anxiety and depression. I would not have known that until I hit a rough patch in my life, as I said, as a young mother. When I was a kid I didn’t understand why my dad would sometimes disappear into the basement and just be gone, sitting in a chair down there, for an extended period of time. I was a kid. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t try to figure it out. But I was able to share with the doctor that I had observed this as a child and he said most definitely that he was probably suffering from the same thing that I was struggling with.
I’ve never shared this publicly, but my own sister three years ago struggled similarly with postpartum depression. It went on for many years with her. She committed suicide three years ago; actually, right during this budget session, and I had to go home.
It affects many, many of our friends. It affects many, many families, if not all. It is encouraging to me that through family support and by the grace of God, I was able to overcome it. People may look at me and think I have accomplished a lot in my life, but I want to tell you, I’ve been there. I’ve been in the depths of depression and anxiety and I was able to overcome it.
We all respond differently. I’m not a person that doesn’t fight back. I don’t suffer in silence. When I’ve got something biting me, most everybody around me is probably going to know about it. But not everybody has that personality. They need our support and our understanding and I appreciate the awareness today.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
