After the suicide of his son, a mother launches a cry from the heart

Photo Elisa Cloutier
On the 6th of September last, Patrick Chouinard, 20, collided with an overpass of the highway Duplessis. The car immediately took fire and he died on the spot. “I went to collect on his body, it was in a bag because it was burned. I squeezed the bag and I told him that I loved him, that I would do everything to understand and that I would talk about what he has taken away life, ” says the mother, Martine Brault. In the photo above, the lady with the petition.

Elisa Cloutier

Tuesday, 6 march 2018, 00:00

UPDATE
Tuesday, 6 march 2018, 00:00

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Convinced that his son had taken his own life due to depression if not treated, a mother calls for better access to psychotherapy for young people.

Six months ago, a little before 6 am in the morning, the son of Martine Brault was hit head-on the viaduct overlooking the autoroute Duplessis, at the height of the autoroute Charest. The car immediately took fire. No trace of braking has not been detected on the scene of the accident. Patrick Chouinard, aged 20 years, died on the spot, confirmed to the coroner that the mother, who consoles himself by saying that his eldest son has not suffered.

Photo courtesy

Patrick Chouinard

Without the slightest clue about the state of mental health of her son, Ms. Brault questioned his friends. These have made him part of some ” alarm signals “. “I learned that it happened to him to ride all night, that he was going to see one of his friends when he was a down and they could ride together for hours time for it to pass. This same friend told me that 48 hours before he kills himself, my son told him that he had spent the night on the tracel de Cap-Rouge [a railway viaduct], ” says the mother in interview to the Newspaper.

Photo special collaboration, Raphael Lemire

Patrick Chouinard lost his life tragically, shortly before 6 o’clock on the 6th of September 2017, while the vehicle in which it took place has caught fire, following a collision.

Despite all of these “clues,” says the mother, Patrick Chouinard has never consulted a psychologist. Today, Ms. Brault is determined to convince the government to give more “tools” for people suffering from depression.

The ministry of health questioned

In a petition filed on February 28 on the website of the national Assembly, Martine Brault is of concern to the department of Health asking for a quicker access to psychologists, without having to go through a family doctor. “As soon as a person begins to feel worse, she should call her doctor, who refers them to a psychologist at the CLSC. This process represents delays of several months, which only aggravate the disease, ” laments the mother bereaved. His petition has collected up to now over 620 signatures.

According to her, the services of psychotherapy should also be reimbursed by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). “It is not everyone who can afford to consult to 130 $ per hour. And, it would not cost so expensive to the health system [add psychologists to MEDICARE], as a psychologist does not need expensive devices, it is two chairs “, she says.

Ms. Brault also wishes that every child, from primary to secondary school, to be met once per year by the psychologist at her school.

“Mental health should be treated as physical health”

The Journal spoke with Lynda Poirier, director general of the Centre for suicide prevention Quebec, about the distress of the people and of the access to psychological services.

Do you believe that we should facilitate access to psychologists in Quebec ?

“Quite. It should not be possible to see a psychologist. It is an issue that is also addressed by judge Michael Sheehan, who does an excellent job of suicide prevention. He is an ambassador, since the death of his son. It considers that mental health care should be as accessible as those in physical health. “

Is it that the consultation of a psychologist should be reimbursed by the RAMQ ?

“It should be a service offered just like those in physical health. Investing in the mental and psychological health of people, it costs a lot less expensive than deaths by suicide, both in human, social and financial. “

How can we empower a family or friends, who want to ensure that their child/friend is going well ?

“Ask the question, definitively. And, if there is the fear of not knowing what to do with the response, you can pre-apply to the Centre for suicide prevention Quebec, where there is a speaker specialised 24 h on 24. There is no waiting list. We support loved ones who are worried and people who have suicidal thoughts. If necessary, contact someone who is suicidal, at the request of a loved one. “

Men in distress

• The evolution of suicide is evident since the late 1990s by a significant decrease in men aged 15 to 24 years and 25 to 44 years.
• The men of 45 to 64 years of age stand out as the group with the suicide rate the highest in Quebec.

If you need help

Line québécoise de prévention du suicide

www.aqps.info | 1-866-CALL (277-3553)

Tel-Jeunes

www.teljeunes.com | 1-800-263-2266