Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty received an award for his tireless work on advocating for a Canadian PTSD strategy.
The Ontario Psychological Association presented Doherty with the 2017 Public Service Award on Thursday.
Doherty says he’s honored but he doesn’t do the work to get recognition.
“It’s hard to receive an award when we know that there are still people that are suffering silence and we still have so much work to do to break the stigma of mental health and you know we are still losing people that are choosing to take their own life to end their fight with post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Doherty says he started his work on PTSD after volunteering when he was younger.
“A long time ago I worked with at-risk youth and at-risk adults in crisis and counseling suicide prevention. And then used whatever skills I had and education I had with that throughout the rest of my life.”
He adds his team is doing this to make sure people know it’s okay to come forward and say they aren’t well.
The OPA Award recognizes public officials work to help those who suffer from behaviour and development problems.
“You are truly a political superstar whose innate sense of caring for others shines
through in all that you do,” wrote Ms. Janet Kasperski, Chief Executive Officer for the
OPA in her letter to the Member of Parliament.
Doherty is hoping Bill C-211 will be passed in parliament because it will develop a national strategy for PTSD, and will address the challenges of recognizing the symptoms and providing timely diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. It currently sits at second reading in the Senate.
(Files from Jeff Slack with MYPRINCEGEORGENOW)
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