In the fall of 1976, at the age of 19, I attempted suicide by taking all the drugs I could find in my pharmacy. Miraculously, my girlfriend at the time, now my spouse, found me, unconscious, in my apartment. I arrived at the hospital just in time. According to the doctors, I came within a hair’s breadth of death.
Posted at 4:00 p.m.
I had incredible luck. Unlike Amélie Champagne, whose tragic death Patrick Lagacé recounted in The Press earlier this week1, I was only released from the emergency room when a bed was available in the psychiatric care unit. I was taken care of by a wonderful team of psychologists, psychiatrists and nurses. I stayed there for a few weeks, doing the difficult work that would allow me to begin to understand the origin of my difficulties. There was no question of the hospital letting me out until I had passed the acute stage of the disease, and a treatment plan, including frequent visits to the hospital, had been established.
In other words, I was entitled to all the services that Amélie did not obtain, for a reason that does not escape me that much.
Years later, I spent a lot of time at two Montreal area hospitals at my mother’s bedside. I saw the disorganization, some employees overworked, others less hardworking. I saw a lot of dedication, but also disillusionment and dehumanization.
As Lagacé said so well, people who fell between the cracks of the system, every Quebecer knows some. This is true for physical health issues, and probably even more so for mental health.
Channel anger
Fortunately, those who govern us are increasingly aware of the problem. The Legault government announced last January a plan of more than 1 billion dollars over five years to improve access to mental health care. During the current election campaign, each of the major parties presented commitments in this area. This is extraordinary progress.
Now, will these action plans, these commitments, these hundreds of millions lead to real improvement in mental health care?
Our governments having been unable to unclog emergency rooms for at least 40 years, we can be skeptical.
What will move governments? Popular anger, suggests Patrick Lagacé. Without a doubt. But it’s not just about politicians throwing out promises and plans. The collective awareness that has begun must spread and deepen. There must be taboos surrounding – yes, even today! – mental disorders fall. And, while public anger may be necessary, it also needs to be channeled effectively. In other words, it must be organized.
There are already organizations dedicated to improving mental health and preventing suicide. They must be supported and strengthened so that their vigilance and influence with the authorities are even stronger. Improving mental health must be made a collective project, where everyone, organization or individual, agrees to bear some responsibility.
Investigations are underway to find out why Amélie did not get the support she was entitled to, regardless of her postcode. Why we didn’t surround her, help her, protect her.
There will be conclusions, recommendations. The government, regardless of the elected party, will surely commit to implementing the recommendations in question. But will there really be concrete results, results that will save lives?
To ensure this, we need dedicated and determined people to follow the file, to hound elected officials and civil servants, to alert public opinion, because that is how things move forward in a democracy like ours. In short, it takes both strong and continuous pressure.
Let us collectively ensure that this issue becomes a priority. Really. In memory of Amelie.
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