for almost a decade, chris coulter has worked to spread awareness for the mental and emotional wellness of youth in canada. his daughter, maddie, lost her life to suicide almost a decade ago after struggling with depression for the better part of her adolescence.
“maddie was not your typical mental illness stereotypical type of person. she was popular, smart, a wicked sense of humour. she wasn’t bullied. there weren’t any real evident challenges that most people would associate with mental illness or depression or someone who would ultimately die by suicide,” coulter said.
his daughter’s experience wasn’t the exception to the rule, and many young people who cope with depression every day don’t fit into a box. that’s why spreading awareness for parents and young people is vital. you don’t have to appear depressed to be drowning on the inside, and the mask that young people often wear to hide these feelings, the one that protects them from the stigma that continues to surround mental illness, is difficult to take off.
since the loss of maddie, coulter continues to fight for better support for mental health through the education system, provide a resource for parents to navigate these difficult situations through his newly-authored book, and prevent youth from making the ultimate sacrifice before it’s too late.
depression in canada’s youth and the school system
according to a
study
published in the canadian medical association journal, “in most affected adolescents, depression remains undetected and untreated.” more than 40% of people with depression developed it before they reached adulthood. in many cases, those people were not provided with the proper tools or education needed to not only express what they were going through but also to seek the appropriate help regarding diagnosis and treatment.