Gov. Gen. David Johnston says “there is much hope” for Canadians dealing with mental illness, but we all must learn to listen and talk openly about mental health.
In an interview with CTV’s Chief News Anchor and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme, Johnston and his wife, Sharon, discussed how mental illness affects different segments of the population, including Canadian aboriginals and soldiers returning from war zones.
“Mental illness is like physical illness,” Johnston said. “It’s an illness that we have to deal with openly -- not simply the person who is suffering, but those around (them).”
He said advancements in health care and technology have given “so much hope” to those struggling with various forms of mental illness.
However, he said there is an “enormous concern” within military ranks about soldiers and veterans who are living with post-traumatic stress disorder and other illnesses.
“One of the challenges we have with the great men and women in uniform is that there is a bit of a stiff upper lip approach to mental illness,” Johnston said.
“Very often, our people in uniform feel that, for some reason, they should not be as open with mental illness as they are with physical illness. That’s something we have to overcome.”
A recent rash of apparent suicides involving eight Canadian soldiers or veterans has raised many questions and prompted assurances from the military that it’s doing everything it can to help troubled soldiers.
Johnston also addressed mental health issues among Canadian aboriginals, especially youth.
He said the suicide rate in First Nations communities is higher than the national rate and the statistics are especially dire in Inuit communities.
“We must be quick to recognize, to listen, to encourage, be empathetic and then to help someone in need find care,” he said.
Sharon Johnston said she has learned to be a “sympathetic listener” through her own experiences.
After having five children in seven years, she wondered how she’d cope with the stress of raising a growing family. She spoke to her doctor, who suggested physical exercise.
Johnston said his wife took up running, which turned out to be a great stress reliever.
Sharon Johnston also shared the story of a woman who became so close to the couple that they refer to her as their adopted daughter.
The woman, an only child, had lost her mother to suicide and suffered from lupus, a serious autoimmune disease that caused rashes on her face.
She was isolated and lonely, but found friends among the Johnstons and their children, Sharon said.
After their surrogate daughter found a doctor who used to drive an hour just to treat her, she felt better both physically and mentally. Now, “she is fantastic,” Sharon said.
“People are nicer than you think,” she said. “You can trust people more and once you start to trust people, you can tell them your story.”
