CKNW Editorial
for October 5, 1999

Today is our third annual depression screening day and I would like to tell you a bit about it. Regular listeners will know that I’ve been under treatment for clinical depression since 1988. I was very fortunate in that I had a physician, Dr Mel Bruchet of North Vancouver, who understood something about depression - most GPs weren't very well informed on the subject in those days. Even today many doctors avoid the topic or make an automatic referral to a psychiatrist without dealing with primary treatment.

Let me tell you why we do this show every year. One might say that a show like this would be ... well, depressing. I don't think it is but you'll be the judge.

It is estimated that one in four people suffer from depression. That's a huge number when you think of the additional number who are affected by a loved one's .. or employee's ... or friend's depression. It's hard to imagine any Canadian who is not affected, one way or another, by this serious ailment.

Now we're not talking here about the natural depression that follows the death of a loved one ... or the loss of a job ... or other things which give all of us a pretty good shot of depression. – though they can certainly be factors in clinical depression, no doubt about that. What we are talking about is an inability to cope on a chronic basis.

First let's look at some of the people that includes. Employers will notice a diminished performance from one usually reliable. That employee may become withdrawn, hostile, suddenly hard to get along with, less punctual and more often sick. Spouses will see a partner who suddenly doesn't communicate, doesn't want to do the things normal to a relationship and simply won't talk about it. You may see a friend who doesn't want to keep up that golf foursome and seems to be drinking much more than usual. In fact alcohol -

and drugs - are often the medicine of choice for depressed people who haven't received help.

There is still a mighty big stigma attached to depression - I can tell you that I far too often get mail calling into question my opinions or the way a show has gone on the grounds that I'm crazy and probably didn't take enough of my crazy-pills. The stigma is such that many if not most sufferers never get help and the proportion of men in that category is much higher than for women. I think this is for two reasons - women have come to understand mental health

better than men. PMS, menopause and other conditions have made most women aware of mental health conditions. Men, on the other hand, often still have the British stiff upper lip, pull up your socks mentality and think it a major sign of cowardice if they seek help for something that is seen a weakness of character.

Let me, then, set the stage this way. Depression is not character weakness at all but a very real illness often with origins in physical problems. I have often said, and I believe fairly, that I shouldn't be any more ashamed of taking elavil plus for depression than I am of taking glucophage for my diabetes ... in one case my body does not make enough serotin, in the other not enough insulin. There are, of course, other causes of depression many of which we'll explore today but I won't rest until the shame of mental illness is removed and we no longer talk of mental health but just health.

Is this show this morning for you?

The answer is almost certainly you are involved with, like or love someone who needs help. Would you not try to extend the hand of love and help if you knew it was a physical ailment a health provider could help with? Of course, we all would. Well, then, why would you not want to help someone whose health and very life might be in jeopardy for want of a health provider who

deals with the mind as well as the body?

There is help available. And help amounting to a cure for hundreds of thousands of Canadians suffering from depression with whom their friends, employers and loved ones also suffer in some way.

Today we will hear from many people involved in mental health including our inspiration for this show, Dr Teresa Hogarth, a family physician who has taken a special interest in mental health. We will take your calls on the open line but most importantly, we have a bank of phones manned by care providers who will advise you off air and anonymously.

This is a massive problem and one which can be beaten. It is not just those who suffer who must participate if we are to win but everybody. So please join us for our third annual Depression Screening Day - it may change your life or that of a loved one and for many it may bring about a change in attitude essential to understanding depression, the illness of so many and the illness where there is help available for those who can break the invisible barrier and seek it.