See Me, Not My Illness — a fundraiser for the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta — is returning to the Lacombe Memorial Centre.
The Oct. 19 event features former NHL goaltender Clint Malarchuk, who played in the league from 1981 until 1992.
Malarchuk has been open about his battle with mental health issues, including post traumatic stress disorder caused by an on-ice injury in 1989, where the skate blade of Steve Tuttle sliced his carotid artery.
Malarchuk began advocating for mental health awareness after he attempted to take his own life in October 2007 with a .22 calibre rifle. The incident led to a PTSD diagnosis, which helped him realize mental illness is an illness, not a weakness.
Malarchuk has since written A Matter of Inches — How I Survived In The Crease And Beyond. He speaks all over North America about his mental health journey to help others.
Malarchuk, who was born in Grand Prairie, said that surviving everything he has in his life means God wanted him to help people.
“For me to be able to talk about these things and educate people on my experience is very motivating for me.
“I just got done talking in Kamloops and I was proud my mom got to be there, because I got a huge standing ovation from people who I may have helped or touched in some way,” he said.
Malarchuk said that since he started speaking to groups, he has noticed society has become more open about mental health issues.
“We are way more open than we have been in the past. I think part of it is companies who have started to recognize mental illness as an illness,” he said.
Despite the growth of awareness, Malarchuk said it is important to continue to battle the negative stigma around mental illness.
“It is an illness, not a weakness. A lot of people are struggling, and they don’t get help because of stigma. It is an illness, like a diabetic. It is a chemical imbalance of the brain, and once you understand that — you get help,” he said.
Malarchuk said mental illness does not discriminate and he hopes he can help people who are battling through tough times.
“We have to be compassionate and we have to make sure people understand that it is not a weakness. That is what I hope people get out of it. They do not have to suffer in silence,” he said.
Call (403) 896-7556 for tickets, or purchase them online at Https://ssa-seemenotmyillness.eventbrite.ca.
Tickets cost $100 per person or $700 for a table of eight.
Last year’s guest was TSN personality Michael Landsberg.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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