Matt & Jean-Paul’s Journey: Understanding Mental Health and the Power of Compassion.

Hello, my name is Matt, and I am married to Jodi.
Toward the close of 2018 and entering 2019, my father, Jean-Paul, began distancing himself from our family gatherings, often seeming preoccupied with his own thoughts. My father took great pride in supporting his family through his successful entrepreneurship. He was the owner of a prominent towing company in Ottawa, which was a significant achievement given that he had to provide for our family of four children, with my mother being a full-time homemaker.
Over the years, as the cost of living surged, my father faced increasing challenges in maintaining his financial stability, a scenario echoing today's societal economic pressures. His fleet of towing trucks was aging, and without the financial means for updates, he made a pivotal decision. He sold his company to venture into snowplowing during the winter and property management during the summer, strategies that allowed him to continue supporting us amidst relentless inflation.
His path required him to remortgage our home every five years to extract liquidity for the family's needs. However, this cycle led to a poignant realization: at sixty, not only was the mortgage still pending, but he also felt a profound fatigue and hopelessness about the future. This marked the beginning of his withdrawal from family life, as he lost the vibrant, proactive spirit we had always known.
In early 2019, my father reached out to me unexpectedly, asking to move in with us. However, when pressed for details and the duration of his stay, he abruptly retracted his request. At that time, my understanding of mental health issues was limited, and I missed the distress signals he was sending. Shortly after this call, while I was on vacation, I received the shocking news from my brother that my father had attempted suicide and was hospitalized. I hurried back, but sadly, just ten days later, he passed away.
The regret of not recognizing my father's mental distress weighs heavily on me. This experience has taught me the critical importance of mental health awareness and the need for compassion and support for those suffering.
After my father's death, I faced my own struggle with depression, which, while being the most challenging time of my life, also offered profound insights into what my father and others experiencing depression endure.
Mental health deserves serious attention and understanding. Through the pain of loss, I've learned the value of compassion and the importance of supporting one another. My wife's creation of a clothing line, inspired by both my father's story and her twin sister's mental health challenges, aims to spread this message of empathy and support.
I share our story in the hope of raising awareness about mental health, to encourage vigilance and care for ourselves and others, and to advocate for breaking the stigma around mental health issues.
I miss my father dearly and wish I could have done more to understand and support him. Let this story be a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the power of compassion.
Thank you for taking the time to read. - Matt