Despite the spring bloom, the skies were more blue. The sun hid behind the thick cover of the clouds. Scattered droplets could be felt, as Sudburians gathered to defeat depression at the 5th Annual Walk/Run.
Nearly 1 in 5 Canadians suffer from mental health illnesses. Unlike other illnesses, depression often goes untreated primarily due to the stigma surrounding the illness, for this, it has also been termed as an invisible disease.
Today the many Sudburians gathered at the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre chose to end the stigma and continue the conversation around mental health disorders.
“Illnesses of the mind do not discriminate — anyone of any age can be affected. As a community, we need to come together. With more voices, we can unite in greater numbers to end the stigma surrounding mental illness,” Dr. Kevin McCormick said at an earlier march held to promote registrations.
The Defeat Depression Walk/Run for this year raised over $27,000 to support Northern Initiative for Social Action (NISA) - a peer-run mental health organization which offers peer support along with active living, and creative and occupational/vocational programming to overcome mental health illnesses.
The money raised will be used to fund programs that will benefit all member of the society suffering in silence with the invisible disease.
Earlier while promoting the event, Dr. McCormick has said that youth between 15-24 years of age, seniors, and caregivers were among some of the most highly vulnerable sectors to be most
likely to be affected by mental illness.
This year Dr. McCormick also encouraged first responders and military personnel to take part in the Defeat Depression walk. Recent studies suggest workers in these professions are at a higher risk than the general population of developing a mental health disorder.
“High rates of suicide linked to PTSD suggest there is an urgency, and that we must work diligently to address the ongoing culture of shame associated with issues of mental health,” McCormick said.
If you missed out on the walk check out our photo gallery
