‘That tree created conversations’
Guineys make donation to support initiatives of Canadian Mental Health Association – Newfoundland and Labrador Division
It may not seem like a lot of money, but it is like a fortune to Bill and Susan Guiney.
The couple raised just over $600 for the Canadian Mental Health Association – Newfoundland and Labrador Division through their Mental Health Tree initiative carried out just prior to Christmas 2017.
It was not the money they are most proud of, but the homage they paid to their daughters, who suffer from mental health issues, and to those who were able to start a dialogue and perhaps work their way through some mental health issues of their own.
“We raised $613 in this one, donations that came from people who wanted to put decorations on the tree in memory of a person who had passed or people who have suffered mental anguish from that passing,” Bill Guiney said.
“There was one lady who explained to me about her situation where the man had committed suicide. This caused her a lot of mental anguish.”
Guiney said this woman’s telling of her story to him, and donating to the Mental Health Tree initiative, helped her through the tough times she was facing.
And this is exactly why Guiney started the project, to help others in those tough times.
“At first, Susan and I decided to start this to brighten up the tree, which stood there all alone on that long stretch of road,” he said. “We were not raising awareness at first. But then we realized there are a lot of people who are lonely through the Christmas season, so if we could find a way to help them, this was a way to help.”
Guiney said both he and
Susan have received a lot of support since starting the project from people who had no idea what type of ordeal they had been through with their two daughters.
“A lot of people wanted to know why we started the tree and through talking with us, found out what we had been through, and we learned about what they had been through, too.”
Dan Goodyear, CEO of thw Canadian Mental Health Association – Newfoundland and Labrador Division, said mental health issues need to be treated the same was a physical ailments — you seek help for one, so why not the other? He said there has to be proper supports put in place to create a support network, safety nets if you will, things that should be available to help all those in need.
“The biggest thing isn’t the $600, it is the awareness, the conversations that people have about mental health because of the donation,” Goodyear said.
“That tree created conversations — healthier conversations — which are a big help. When people start to speak about their problems and start to reach out, it helps.”
Goodyear said it doesn’t matter where those conversations take place, just so long as they do. It could be in a car, at home … it could be a husband and wife or a parent and a child. It could even be two friends seeking to find a solution to an issue that is causing them stress, grief and anguish.
“We need to have those conversations. That is a healthy thing.”
For those who drive the barrens on Highway 10 on the
Southern Shore, most have seen the lonely and scraggly spruce about seven kilometres north of Portugal Cove South.
Some would call it a symbol of solitude, a singular tree standing alone in the middle of tough surroundings.
This could be the way people who suffer from mental health issues feel … solitude, alone, standing by themselves.
Bill decided to draw attention to the high amount of stress and mental health issues the holidays can create and, in honour of his daughters, decorate the tree for everyone to share and elicit a message of hope.
Susan and Bill Guiney know first-hand the traumatic experience mental health played in their own lives, and have worked for several years to assist people with the issues surrounding mental health.
Their story surrounds their daughters, who several years ago, just four days apart, both attempted suicide.
“Both of our girls have ended up in the hospital with suicide attempts,” Susan Guiney said in a past interview.
“They both have depression and anxiety issues. Our youngest was a cutter. That is a cry for help. One of those cuts went too far and she nearly died. Four days later, our other daughter took an overdose.”
In an effort to help others and to lend support to mental health illnesses, the Guineys have done several events to encourage people to seek help and not take the same drastic measures attempted by their daughters. The initial event was a pushup challenge which sees Bill and a few of his friends do as many pushups as possible on a designated day, raising funds and awareness for mental health issues.
The Guineys decided to decorate the tree with ornaments throughout the month of December to raise awareness of mental health issues and availability of help for people suffering those issues over the holidays.
He also placed four ornaments on the tree to represent he and Susan, and their two girls, and made a small donation to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s N.L. Division.
In addition, Guiney is working on the 2018 Pushup Challenge that will be held in August. More details about the event will be available in a few weeks.
Bill says if anyone is going to participate, they should start working on their pushups now, and find a way to help those who need assistance with mental health issues.