Spirit of Christmas: Courtnall Brothers Form Foundation to Support Mental Health Initiatives

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Christmas can be a joyous celebration or life, or a pain-filled resignation to struggle.

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Reuniting with family and friends, even in reduced numbers during COVID-19 restrictions, as the Omicron variant fuels a severe increase in cases, can continue to provide the foundation for a happy and healthy outlook to meet the challenges presented to many. daily.

For those beset by an exhausting disconnection from society on a personal and professional level, this is not a time for happiness. It is time to ask for help.

Geoff, Russ, and Bruce Courtnall have heard the call and have long been champions of health initiatives in British Columbia. His commitment to pay forward speaks of being touched by family tragedy: his father, Archie, suffered from depression and committed suicide, from personal struggles. in search of peace and harmony.

His previous efforts raised $ 3 million through the events of the Courtnall Celebrity Classic Society to build the Archie Courtnall Center at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria to aid patient care.

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And now, the trio have launched The Courtnall Society for Mental Health.

Through fundraising grants, you will promote understanding of mental health through awareness, education, and resources to support community-focused mental health organizations in Canada. The four pillars of society are suicide prevention, children and youth, substance abuse, and community integration.

The stigma that mental health struggles are a weakness of spirit, or the plague of a poor man, is what the Courtnall family hopes to eradicate through education and support. They spoke to that Wednesday.

“The biggest thing is a lot of people’s fear of admitting they’re not okay,” said Geoff, 59, a former Vancouver Canucks winger. “That has been the biggest problem in society, but there is more awareness that people with depression and anxiety discuss their feelings and get help.”

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He suffered serious side effects from more than a dozen professional concussions that forced him to retire from the NHL at age 37. She also had to overcome alcoholism, a failed marriage, and a family history.

“As a child, and going through my father’s suffering and fear because he did not want to admit to anyone that he was sick, that cost us a family,” he added. “This is an opportunity to help more communities and people. We have companies and a large network of people who have helped us in the past and want to continue. That is the power we have.

“Because of the way we were raised, we are so grateful that we were successful and we want to continue to give back as we have in the past with Canuck Place.”

For Russ, 56, his experiences in mental health included advice from former Montreal Canadiens general manager Serge Savard to see a professional after a relationship breakup when he was 25 years old.

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“I was devastated and I was taking myself down,” recalled the former Canuck winger. “Serge took me to therapy and I had my best year (26 goals, 50 assists in 1990-91). I have been in therapy four or five times and they were all events that I proposed myself. I’ve healed and feel great now and haven’t had to go to therapy in years. “

Russ also needed to understand what was happening within his family.

“We have talked to our children since they were little and our oldest daughter, Ally, runs the Dual Citizen mental health site,” he added. “He sends positive messages and has almost 80,000 followers. She is targeting mothers and daughters with looks, cooking, and mental health. Our family is an open book and she struggled through her early college and high school years, we had no idea.

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“We have to pay attention to our families. If we see something and it doesn’t look right, it’s probably not right. “

There has always been peer pressure for the younger population, but today’s social media platforms have taken the conversation and scrutiny to a toxic level.

“The power of the internet can really affect children and you see all the examples of bullying and stories that are very sad,” Geoff said.

Bruce, 54, has always been aware of the challenges fundraising presents, especially on a large scale. His brothers are recognizable faces of worthwhile endeavors, but Bruce is a key component in keeping the funding wheels rolling.

“We started with previous supporters and those who have reached out,” he said. “Obviously it will cost a lot of money and work from scratch, but it is going very well. Now that mental health is being talked about a lot more, it’s easier to reach out to people and ask for financial help.

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“It’s good to have the support. We did not overcome the stigma of mental health, but today we are much more advanced than when we were children. “

Perhaps Russ put it best about the message of not getting lost in seeking charitable support.

“Many of us don’t know where to go for help,” he said. And when you feel depressed and lonely, you don’t make the best decisions. You can talk to family and friends, but they are usually not equipped for that. You should go see your doctor because there are great people.

“It leads people to the right source. If you arrive early, you will receive our early. “

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