The Editor,
Re. “Local shock at Que. mosque massacre” (The Tri-City News, Feb. 1).
As eloquently spoken by our prime minister, my heart is broken by the murder of six Canadians in Quebec.
But I am also frustrated because, once again, the unthinkable has occurred in our country. Once again a young person who, in hindsight, may have demonstrated symptoms of mental instability has been offered access to unbelievably deadly weapons and inflammatory rhetoric instead of early intervention, treatment and support to maintain mental health.
The response will predictably be one of calls to increase vigilance for terrorists and strengthen police response. When will we get it right? When will we recognize that we must put our energies and efforts into prevention, not reaction?
We must make mental wellness a priority in our country. Mentally healthy individuals do not seek others to hate or harm. We must remove the stigma that prevents individuals from seeking help when it is needed. We must educate the public on how to recognize and respond when friends or family demonstrate symptoms of mental instability. We must increase the numbers of mental health workers at all levels and decrease wait times for services.
Locally, here in Coquitlam, we can work together to let the provincial government know we want the Riverview lands to remain as a centre for mental health excellence.
I offer my sincerest sympathies to our Muslim fellow Canadians.
Sandra Ang, Coquitlam
