Mental health and suicide: Seeking help most important, say local advocates

“Lindsey went all through high school hiding the fact she had depression like many others do because there’s the stigma and the embarrassment factor,” More says.

“When she finally did come out in December 2014, we sought help. It was totally a shock the night she came to me and said something was wrong. She was crying and said she’d tried to kill herself two times before.”

More says there were zero indicators, which in turn left him blindsided.

“In her happy times, she was very happy, but it was almost a daily thing that she was fighting the darkness that happens with mental illness and depression,” he says.

“The thing that’s hard for me now is to hear that Lindsey wasn’t a one off. This is happening a lot, and parents contact me to say they’re in the same boat, and their child is still alive, but they’re very frustrated because there are no answers and they don’t know where to go.”

Since launch, Smiles Thru Lindsey, has raised over $350,000, plus invaluable awareness. Most recently, the foundation gave $10,000 to Chinook’s Edge School Division for mental health programming.

Lindsey’s passing also gave cause to the Mores to take care of their own mental health.

“Suicide affects everyone differently; mothers, fathers, siblings, and you don’t know how you’re going to react, but some people need help,” More says. “My medicine has been the foundation work and affecting lives of youth. That’s what keeps me going and realizing this hasn’t been for not.”

Locally, Suicide Information and Education Services, an arm of The Outreach Centre, offers help to those seeking it. Dawne Adkins, a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, says most people are not well-equipped to deal with loss, especially if it’s cumulative.

“There’s fear of what it’s going to look like, fear of what that means to that person, but that first step is to say ‘I need help.’ It’s sometimes a tricky navigation, but there is support out there,” she says of both people who are grieving and who have yet to act on suicidal thoughts.

“It’s fairly common to have a fleeting thought of suicide, but it’s when those thoughts become more prevalent that maybe you need to reach out and express them to someone. That can be a very scary thing obviously, but know those thoughts don’t have to become actions.”

Adkins says it’s most important to remember that one can live well with a mental illness, and that having a mental illness doesn’t mean one did something wrong.

At Suicide Information and Education Services, free outreach services are offered to anyone who wants to chat about their mental health, there are grieving services for any type of loss, and there are summer camps for kids aged 5-13 who may not enjoy the traditional type of camp.

Adkins says no one will be turned away for financial reasons.

According to Health Canada statistics, an average of 10 people die by suicide in Canada daily, about 4000 annually, Ninety per cent of those were living with a mental health problem.

Suicide has shown to be the ninth leading cause of death in Canada, between influenza and kidney disease. It is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-19 and 20-29, and the third leading cause of death for adults aged 30-44.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can call the distress line at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433).

Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642

Kid’s Help Line: 1-800-668-6868

Native Youth Crisis Hot Line: 1-877-209-1266

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Watch for more of our special look at mental health awareness later this month here at rdnewsNOW.com.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Mental health and suicide: Seeking help most important, say local advocates

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