Madam Speaker, that we are having this conversation in a national forum like this is so important. It is important that we end the silence around this topic.
I want to commend a previous questioner who commented about my colleague, Dave Batters. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Denise Batters for her amazing work and for not being afraid to share her story and bring it into the public forum. As members know, my colleague Dave Batters was very open about his battle with depression. For many of us it was a total shock to hear that he had ended his life by suicide. He was always such an encouragement and a great person to be around.
I think my colleague will agree that not all suicides are the result of mental illness. There is, as is pointed in the motion, a public health issue as well.
Would my colleague highlight what her understanding is of the need for a public health part of this, in addition to the mental health part?