The Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation [1] was created to raise awareness about mental health issues, especially with teens since Dennehy was only 17 when he committed suicide after years of dealing with anxiety and depression. To continue raising money and awareness, Kelty’s parents will ride across Canada this summer to tell Kelty’s story and more. Before the start of the journey, Ginny Dennehy talks to Joseph Planta about her son, about teen suicide and more.
Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:
I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.
Ginny and Kerry Dennehy are two parents who will soon set off for a cross country cycle across Canada to raise money and awareness for mental health. They’ll cycle some 8,000 km from Whistler, British Columbia to Cape Spear, Newfoundland beginning on Mother’s Day, 12 May 2013. Along the way, they’ll talk about their son Kelty, who died in 2001 at the age of 17, committing suicide, having struggled with depression. Mr and Mrs Dennehy lost their 23 year old daughter Riley in 2009, who had struggled with the loss of her brother for years. Soon after they started The Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation, and their goal is to raise awareness about teen suicide, which is the second leading cause of death for young people in Canada. It’s an essential message, and Ginny Dennehy joins me now to talk about her children, this cycle across Canada and the need for greater awareness with regards to mental health issues. 70% of mental health problems begin during childhood, and those that need help, often find that access to the services they need is lacking. There’s also the stigma surrounding mental illness, which we’ll discuss and I’ll get Ginny to dispel. Visit www.thekeltyfoundation.org [1] for more information. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Whistler today, Ginny Dennehy; Mrs. Dennehy, good morning.
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