Students at Osoyoos Secondary School lined the walkway to give Clara Hughes (left) a send off as she left the school to climb Anarchist Mountain. The winner of six Olympic medals in cycling and speed skating is cycling across much of Canada to raise awareness about mental illness to try to end the stigma. (Richard McGuire photo)
Six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes stopped in Osoyoos last week on her Clara’s Big Ride bicycle trip throughout Canada.
Hughes spoke Thursday evening at the Sonora Community Centre and Friday morning at Osoyoos Secondary School, sharing her message about mental health.
The stop in Osoyoos is part of a 110-day, 12,000 km bicycle journey to 95 communities in every province and territory of Canada.
Hughes is the only athlete in history to win multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Games, where she competed in cycling and speed skating.
Hughes is using her fame as an athlete to talk about a very different chapter of her life – a battle with severe depression. She hopes her experience can help others.
Depression is just one form of mental illness. Bi-polar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and schizophrenia are among other mental illnesses that many Canadians face.
All of these illnesses can be treated and controlled through a variety of means ranging from counselling to medication to group therapy or other types of assistance.
Worse than the illnesses themselves, however, are the social stigmas about mental illness that can lead to discrimination and cause as many as two thirds of those experiencing mental illness to avoid seeking help.
Some people, for example, believe that mental illnesses are not real illnesses and that a person can simply “snap out of” or “get over” an illness such as depression. This is untrue, and depression can be much more overwhelming that a case of “the blues.”
At the other extreme, some people believe those suffering from mental illness are violent and dangerous. In fact, as the Canadian Mental Health Association points out, people experiencing mental illness are no more violent than people without a mental illness.
Although many people treated for mental illnesses can lead perfectly normal and productive work lives, a history of mental illness can result in discrimination that becomes a barrier to employment.
Recently a Canadian woman who had once been hospitalized for clinical depression was denied entry into the United States as a result. And some people are denied insurance due to a history of mental illness.
On her ride throughout Canada, Hughes is trying to meet and engage as many Canadians as possible and in particular young people.
She and ride organizers believe that younger people will be more receptive to her message about removing the stigma surrounding mental illness.
“By engaging youth in every community, our hope is that the next generation of Canadians will grow up in a society where there is no stigma around mental illness,” says background information for Clara’s Big Ride.
One in five Canadians experiences a mental illness at some point in their lives. The rest of us are touched by family members, friends or co-workers who face this challenge.
Clara Hughes has brought an important message to Osoyoos about the need to erase the social stigma. We hope her message has been heard.
