Red and white balloons filled the air for the fourth annual Get in Touch for Hutch event here on July 2.
The balloon release, 1km and 5km run/walk were held in honour of Steven Hutchison, who lost his life to suicide in February 2013. The event offers support for those struggling with mental health issues and aims to show they are never alone.
The event has raised over $200,000 to date.
“I wasn’t sure what today would bring. Looking out here, it’s the long weekend and you have chosen to spend your Saturday with us, so thank you,” said Myrna Hutchison, Steven’s mother, during the opening ceremonies.
“Four years ago, we dropped our oldest son Stephen off to university for his very first year away. My heart felt like it got left behind that day and little did we know that would be the year that changed our lives forever,” said Myrna.
She encouraged everyone to open up and be welcoming to anyone who needs it.
“The stats speak to us – one in five Canadian will develop a mental illness in sometime in their lives, suicide accounts for 24 per cent of deaths among 18 to 24 year olds and only 20 per cent of children who need mental health services receive them,” said Myrna.
The event’s guest speaker was Scarlett Davidson, a 22-year-old mental health advocate.
“I’m here today as a mental health advocate because for as long as I can remember mental health has had an impact on my life,” she said.
Davidson spoke about her hardships with obsessive compulsive disorder, childhood depression, self-harm and an eating disorder.
“I sort of put on this tough façade because I didn’t want people to see how vulnerable and fragile I felt inside,” said Davidson.
She lost her grandfather early in high school, she lost a friend to suicide and lost her mother to cancer.
“That really sent me to a lower rock bottom than I had ever been,” said Davidson.
“My mom was my biggest advocate and support and when she passed away my whole world turned upside down.”
Her mother encouraged her to speak up as an advocate.
“It’s so important to validate your feelings … there’s nothing wrong with feeling your feelings and talking about them,” said Davidson.
“Never give up, there’s always the hope that the next day is going to be a little bit easier.”
For more information visit getintouchforhutch.com.
