Earlier this year, while on-air at CKNW studios in Vancouver, radio personality Jon McComb made a tremendously difficult decision: he went public with his battle with depression. Devoted listeners sat, riveted, as they heard an unexpected story from a man – known for his confident, knowledgeable demeanor and reassuring baritone-like voice – who relayed his battle with an illness he had spent his life trying to hide.

One of my biggest hurdles was overcoming my own feelings of shame that I suffered from depression,” Jon confided to his fans in this live broadcast.”

“A sense of being diminished in my own eyes and those of others because my illness was mental instead of physical…as if having a massive heart attack would
have been more socially acceptable.”

What Jon did took courage: courage to reveal something so private, and courage that others would understand the severity and stigma of mental illness. Thankfully, others in the community have stepped up publicly to share their experiences. Real estate marketer Bob Rennie came forward to tell the challenging story of his mother’s difficult and drawn-out struggle with dementia. Ellen Flanders and Mel Ackerman have spoken out about their daughter’s battle with schizoaffective disorder, and the devastating effects that mental illness has on families.

These amazing people – Jon, Bob, Ellen, Mel and others – are also going public with their message to actively raise funds for the Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre at VGH.

The $84 million mental health centre is boosted by a $12-million gift from real estate developer and retailer Joe Segal and his wife Rosalie, and has received $57 million in funding from the government. Donors have contributed additional funds, leaving just over $8 million left to raise in order to make this project a reality.

With continued help from donors, this new Centre will provide hope and healing to thousands who are suffering from mental illness.

SIDE BAR STORY: JOSEPH & ROSALIE SEGAL FAMILY HEALTH CENTRE
The new, eight-storey, 90,000-square-foot mental health centre will replace an overcrowded, badly deteriorated 70-year-old facility. With 100 private patient rooms, each with its own bathroom, it will be the largest purpose-built facility of its kind in the province.

Short-term acute care will be provided to seriously ill people suffering from major depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, psychotic disorders and drug and alcohol addiction.

Recovery will be aided with natural light, calming colour and textures, quiet spaces for reading and meditating, outdoor gardens and courtyards, and access to exercise facilities.

All of these elements, combined with the extensive psychiatric expertise that exists here at VGH, will make this new building a model of modern psychiatric care.

Support the new mental health centre at VGH.