For families affected by a loved oneSA国际影视传媒檚 mental illness, support can often be hard to find.
Other times, itSA国际影视传媒檚 found in unexpected places.
For Maggie Alanak, that place was Yellowknife City Hall on Wednesday.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 very blessed that I came here and very thankful that I dropped by because I needed help like this,SA国际影视传媒� said Alanak.
Alanak, bearing a tiny trove of traditional, handmade crafts, went to city hall on Wednesday to sell her art SA国际影视传媒� income she uses to help support her family and her son, who resides in a mental health treatment facility in Edmonton.
Moments later, Alanak was helping to hoist a flag SA国际影视传媒� bearing the logo of the Bell LetSA国际影视传媒檚 Talk campaign SA国际影视传媒� in front of city hall.
Her impromptu participation came as representatives from the City of Yellowknife, Stanton Territorial Hospital and Northwestel gathered at the steps of city hall to raise awareness about mental health and its enduring stigmas by raising the flag on Bell LetSA国际影视传媒檚 Talk day.
Brendan Burke/NNSL photo
The yearly bid from Bell Canada SA国际影视传媒� NorthwestelSA国际影视传媒檚 parent company SA国际影视传媒� to get people talking about mental health began in 2010 and sees the telecommunication giant donate funds raised from every text, call or social media exchange that includes the hashtag #BellLetsTalk, to mental health initiatives in the country.
SA国际影视传媒淚 felt strong and I felt proud to have raised the flag, because ISA国际影视传媒檓 a mother thatSA国际影视传媒檚 been through a lot of stuff with my boys,SA国际影视传媒� said Alanak.
Living in Yellowknife Housing for three years now, Alanak has found support for herself and her son. But, as she told Yellowknifer, the road to getting help for her sonSA国际影视传媒檚 mental illness was long and difficult.
After relocating to Inuvik from her home community of Ulukhaktok where itSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渢oo small, with no help,SA国际影视传媒� Alanak said she was forced to move to Yellowknife in order to receive better access to mental health services and resources.
After entering into housing in Yellowknife thanks to the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 integrated case management program, Alanak said she decided a long term facility for her son, outside of the territory, was the SA国际影视传媒渂est place for him.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 tough love when you have to deal with these types of illnesses,SA国际影视传媒� she said, wiping away tears. Her adult son, Alanak said, used to reject the help he needed, making matters worse.
A move away from home due to a lack of resources in smaller communities also meant a SA国际影视传媒渓oss of cultureSA国际影视传媒� for Alanak and her family.
(From left to right) Northwestel聮s Paul Gillard, Maggie Alanak and Deputy Mayor Shauna Morgan display the flag, meant to raise awareness about mental illness and enduring stigmas.
Jan. 30, 2019.
But now, she said, her son is SA国际影视传媒渄oing really, really well.SA国际影视传媒�
The chance encounter with organizers of the flag raising Wednesday allowed for Alanak to be in a space where she could SA国际影视传媒渏ust talk.SA国际影视传媒�
Alanak has a message for other families who may still be looking for support.
SA国际影视传媒淚 just want to let the mothers know out there that theySA国际影视传媒檙e not alone. It feels like we are ... but keep looking and keep trying and donSA国际影视传媒檛 give up. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 help out there, you just have to reach out and find it.SA国际影视传媒�
Deputy mayor Shauna Morgan, who helped raise the flag alongside Alanak, said the city is committed to tackling mental illness by continuing to fund the Yellowknife Street Outreach Program and Sobering Centre in 2019.
