#GETLoud! The main theme of Mental Health Week was raised during the Mayor’s Luncheon on Monday afternoon.
Kyle Moffat was the guest speaker during the Mayor’s Luncheon. He spoke candidly about mental health issues that his father, Wade Moffat, had faced during his life, which ultimately led to Wade committing suicide.
The Mayor’s Luncheon was one of the first events for Mental Health Week to be hosted by the Weyburn branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
“One thing that I was not able to mention today is the fact that a large portion of my story is my own experiences of mental illness and suicide when I was in high school,” said Moffat. “Today, the majority of my speech was about my father because of how it ended, and how I don’t want it ended like that for others.”
Moffat noted that his speech is often tailored depending on his audience. When he is speaking to an older crowd, he will focus on the story of his father, and his father’s suicide. When he is speaking to a younger crowd, especially at schools, he will focus on his own high school experiences and challenges.
“Part of the reason I share his story is because my dad was such a public and out-going person. We did go a lot with my dad, which was very hard. But I believe that his story is important to share.”
Moffat noted that speaking in public is a good mental health release for his own personal life. “Talking is the best thing that I can do for myself.”
“On the day that my father died, I spent the whole day calling family. I really focus on that idea to get me through the event.”
“I encourage everyone to find their ‘thing’ that gets them through those moments,” said Moffat.
The exposure of having multiple people sharing their mental health stories is a very good thing to increasing the climate of accepting mental health illnesses, and reducing the amount of stigma. “That awareness is so important. Normalizing these type of issues is a great start,” said Moffat.
Mental Health Week will be continued to be marked by the Canadian Mental Health Association throughout this week.
