The story of Christine Caron, this young woman who took her own life at the age of 25 after writing a letter denouncing the lack of resources for people with mental health problems, touched the whole of Quebec.
• Also read: She takes her own life at 25: ‘I really hope my death will help change things’
• Also read: Christine Caron’s suicide provokes a flood of testimonies
Dozens of testimonies have been sent to us from people who are suffering or who have lost a loved one to suicide.
This is particularly true of Louise Trépanier, who had the courage to tell the story of her daughter Laura Marcoux, who took her own life on May 7, 2022, on television.
However, nothing indicated that she was in distress, she says in an interview with Jean-François Guérin on LCN’s airwaves.
Louise Trepanier | Screenshot, TVA News
“She was so bubbly and always helping others. She had a great life, she had friends and she was always doing something. She seemed fulfilled, nothing could tell us that she was suffering, ”says Ms. Trépanier.
The only downer is that Laura already had problems with anorexia and bulimia when she was a minor. Because it was difficult to get her treatment in Abitibi, she was sent to a private clinic in Montreal.
“It didn’t really work out,” her mother recalls. Even so, Laura seemed to feel better as time went on.
She returned to Montreal as an adult where she seemed to be living life to the fullest.
Another somewhat unusual story: Ms Trépanier’s family doctor, whom she consulted regularly, always asked her about her daughter.
After Laura’s suicide, her mother realized that Laura continued to see her doctor out of desperation. Professional secrecy prevented the doctor from revealing anything to his mother.
By reading her child’s diary, Ms. Trépanier understood the extent of Laura’s suffering.
“She hid her distress from everyone, even her spouse. She wrote in her diary: “To hide my distress, I give myself 10 out of 10,” says Ms. Trépanier, who doesn’t understand why she hasn’t talked about it.
It evokes a train of thought.
“These young women (anorexic and bulimic) develop methods to hide their distress because they are ashamed and have mechanisms to hide it. That’s why Laura always lived with the impression that she had to hide,” adds her mother.
She regrets that there are many advertising campaigns encouraging people to ask for help, but in practice it is difficult to get.
“There is none. Laura died of mental cancer,” says Louise Trépanier.
Laura Marcoux took her own life on May 7, 2022. She would have turned 30 in June.
IF YOU NEED HELP
Quebec Suicide Prevention Line
• www.aqps.info
• CALL 1 866 (277-3553)
child support phone
• www.jeunessejecoute.ca
• 1.800.668-6868
Tel-young
• www.teljeunes.com
• 1.800.263-2266
ANEB Quebec
• 1.800.630-0907
• 514 630-0907