TORONTO – Two B.C .parents are cycling across Canada in hopes of reducing the stigma attached to mental health illness in young people.
In an interview with Global News’ The Morning Show Wednesday, Kerry and Ginny Dennehy said they hope their 8,000 km journey, “Enough is Enough,” from Whistler, B.C. to Cape Spear in Newfoundland will raise awareness and funding resources that will reduce depression and suicide in young people.
The parents lost their 17-year-old son, Kelty, after he suffered from depression and committed suicide in 2001. Shortly after, The Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation was launched in hopes of raising funds for mental health research.
The foundation also aims to provide resources and support to young people, families and friends by helping them better understand mental health diseases like depression.
The Dennegys said they hope their cause and foundation reduces depression-related suicide rates among Canadians, especially young people.
“The journey that we had travelled in that very short time with Kelty was something we didn’t want anyone else to do” Ginny Dennegy told Global News.
Watch: B.C. parents bring ‘Enough is Enough’ to Toronto.
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), suicide continues to be the second leading cause of death for Canadian youth, while depression is forecast to be the second leading cause of disability by 2020.
READ MORE: Canadian gov’t inaction on mental health hurts economy, families: report
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women.
“We, as a society, have to start to treat this disease as we treat cancer, heart disease and any other disease,” said Ginny.
Kelty’s parents said that it is important to for parents to realize any change in their child’s behaviour and to not be afraid to ask their kids tough questions.
“They have to understand it’s a disease like any other diseases and that’s the way we have to treat it,” said Ginny.
Children’s Mental Health Ontario said most mental health problems emerge in childhood or adolescence and half of all people who suffer from depression, for instance, are first affected before their 20th birthday.
To date, The Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation has raised over $5 million. The Dennehys said they hope to raise another $2 million through the ride alone.
The Dennehys also said more support is needed for those suffering from mental health illnesses.
Last year, the Mental Health Commission of Canada released its first-ever national strategy to improve mental health for all Canadians and found that mental health issues costs the Canadian economy over $50 billion a year in lost productivity and health costs.
Earlier this month, the Dennehys hosted a rally at McMahon Stadium in Calgary as part of their cross-Canada bike ride.
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