Re - Appreciation for those who can and will speak publicly and comfortably about mental illness.
Recently we had the encouraging opportunity to attend Rose MacDonald's Life Celebration. It was thoughtfully organized and presented and reflected the appreciation of the Rose we knew.
Illness of the mind, in whatever form it took, has in the past often been ignored, mocked and the individual shunned. One in five Canadians do or have suffered directly from some form or level of mental illness. Fortunately today, more and more individuals understand that a dysfunction of my liver, heart, lung, etc. is no different than that of my mind.
Here is the point of my letter, at the funeral , Rose's daughter spoke eloquently and comfortably about how mental illness had touched her family's life and encouraged all of us to better understand and respond to mental illness no matter where it exists. This type of leader ship speaks well for a more constructive environment for mental illness in the future.
Thus we encourage all to follow her example, speak out as you have opportunity.
Glen McMillan, Kipling, SK
