Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister of Health and Social Services has indicated, the Mental Wellness Week is February 7th to 13th. Mr. Speaker, I was listening to the news this past week. I was very saddened to hear the report of the young mother in Millet, Alberta, that was going through a relationship breakup. In fact, they found her two children, her two little boys -- they showed a picture of them on the news -- and the two year old and the 10 month old were dead in her home. After that, she attempted to take her own life. Mr. Speaker, when I heard that story on the news, I thought to myself, what do we have here in the Northwest Territories that is different than those who live in a big city and are lost in that kind of milieu who would become so desperate? I have to assume that perhaps mental illness played a part in that or post-partum depression played a part in that.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we as legislators and as a government do spend those resources to ensure that there is help out there for people when they do go through situations of desperation or times of mental illness. I think that we also need to talk about it, so that we take away the stigma so that people do not feel embarrassed or ashamed to reach out and ask for help when they need it and to clearly and concisely communicate their needs.
Mr. Speaker, to that end, I want to tell you that many people look at me and think that I have accomplished a fair amount in my life and have on my now fourth term serving here in the Legislature. But I want to tell you that, as a young mother with two small boys myself, with news of stress of my mother being diagnosed with a terminal illness of cancer, at the age 27 I went through a period, a very dark period of post-partum depression, with two little boys and 3,000 miles from home in the Northwest Territories. Now, I had the good fortune of having a supportive husband and by the grace of God and with the help and support of a community, I did come out of that. As you can see, I have gone on to lead, I think, a very kind of normal and productive life. But, Mr. Speaker, I know what it is to be in those throes of being down and being desperate and being depressed.
So, Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage anybody who is out there, if you are in need, reach out for help from someone. This Helpline that the Minister spoke of today is there. There are people who do care. People need to be aware of that. I do commend the Minister for this initiative.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
