Banners in N.B. communities encourage residents to access mental health services
A father who lost his teenaged daughter to suicide is hoping the mental health banners flying in some New Brunswick communities will encourage people struggling with mental health to reach out for help.
Last year, 16-year-old Lexi Daken died by suicide after going to the hospital for help. Her death triggered a review of the province’s mental health system.
"To me it's not even so much about the picture of Lexi, to me it's about the phone numbers that are on the banners," said Chris Daken, Lexi’s father.
"It seems to be a positive response. People like the idea of them, they think we should have them in all communities across the province."
The banners contain contact information for provincial mental health services. Daken says they were first displayed in New Brunswick’s Charlotte County.
“My aunt, who purchased the two in Lexi's memory, is friends with the gentleman in the St. George area that does them. So she had ordered two for me,” said Daken.
February will mark one year since the Daken family lost Lexi. Her father says the province still needs to do more to improve the mental health system.
"I get emails and messages from people saying we got service when we went into the hospital,” said Daken.
“Then, you know, the next day you'll get a message from somebody saying it was the same old thing, that they had to wait for several hours and never got the service and basically got kind of pushed aside."
Meanwhile, Daken says his family is doing their best to cope with the loss of their loved one.
"It's a day-to-day thing. There's not a day that don't go by that I don't think about her. We just celebrated her birthday last week, so it’s, it don't seem like a year.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.