TORONTO -- Sen. Denise Batters has spent the past decade trying to change the conversation about a topic she describes as the 鈥渇inal frontier of stigma.鈥�
That topic is suicide and Batters has been personally invested in discussing it ever since her husband鈥檚 death by suicide in 2009.
鈥淭oo often suicide has become what people don鈥檛 want to talk about,鈥� she told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Wednesday. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 want to admit that it鈥檚 the unfortunate outcome in the worst-case scenario of mental health issues that are untreated or not properly treated so I want to bring more focus to that.鈥�
Despite his depression and anxiety, Batters said her husband, Dave, was always a 鈥渉appy, outgoing鈥� person. He served as the MP for the Saskatchewan riding of Palliser from 2004 to 2008 before he announced he wouldn鈥檛 run again due to his mental health issues and his addiction to prescription medication.
He died by suicide the following year at the age of 39.
At his funeral, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke of the need for greater understanding and compassion for those suffering from depression and anxiety.
鈥淚 think what Dave鈥檚 story really illustrates is that everybody has the risk of suffering from mental illness. It doesn鈥檛 matter how good of a job you have, how well off you are, even how outgoing you are,鈥� Batters said.
Since her husband鈥檚 death, Batters said being honest about what happened was instrumental in helping her and her family work through their grief.
鈥淒ave was honest when he announced he couldn鈥檛 run again because he was suffering with mental health issues and also overcoming a dependency on prescription medication so we thought we would also be honest about the fact that he had died by suicide,鈥� she said.
Now, Batters hopes that sharing her story and discussing suicide will help others who are struggling in silence.
鈥淲hat I want them to know is that there is help and people should reach out,鈥� she said. 鈥淗ope is so key in all of this.鈥�
Every year, die by suicide. In many cases, Batters said addiction also plays a role in their mental health issues.
鈥淰ery often people self-medicate with alcohol or drugs or other substances or even behaviours in order to try to overcome their mental health issues and if they鈥檙e not honest about those types of issues as well, people can鈥檛 treat the full scope of what they鈥檙e dealing with,鈥� she explained.
In an effort to bring attention to the topic of suicide, Batters encouraged people to talk about mental health issues and to reach out to anyone who may be struggling.
鈥淟et鈥檚 also reach out to someone that perhaps you haven鈥檛 heard from in a while who you perhaps might be concerned about, just ask someone you care about 鈥楢re you OK?鈥欌�� she said.
