Smithers woman Lisa Glaim knows first-hand how isolating depression can be.
“It cuts you into a space that, 'Why am I even living here? Why do I want to live?'” she told The Interior News today.
There was a time in Glaim's life when she was losing her battle against the illness. She said she almost lost her life but treatment and support helped her overcome it.
Now she wants to give hope to others by raising awareness that suicide is preventable and treatment is available.
“I found a whole new way of thinking and a whole new [approach] to who I am and that I wasn't a bad person,” she said.
“Everybody needs that and they need professionals to tell them that.”
On May 6, 2014, Glaim's son Stephen lost his battle with depression.
On the anniversary of her son's death tomorrow, May 6, Glaim will lead a march down Main Street to raise awareness about depression, suicide warning signs and the importance of timely and accessible support services.
Starting at the goat statue near the junction of Highway 16 and Main Street at 10 a.m., the march will end with a discussion at Positive Living North on Broadway Avenue.
Glaim hopes the public will join her and others whose lives have been affected by suicide on the march. She also encouraged people to donate to suicide prevention services.
For more information about the warning signs of suicide visit the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: http://suicideprevention.ca/preventing/warning-signs/
A full list of British Columbian crisis hotlines is available here: http://suicideprevention.ca/thinking-about-suicide/find-a-crisis-centre/british-columbia-crisis-centres/