My struggle with Depression

When she was twelve years old, Jackie Nourse was labeled depressed, her family doctor's advice was to try and ,be happy,. By the age of nineteen, she attempted suicide - the attending physician scolded her for wasting the time of the emergency room staff. As an adult, she found it impossible to hold down a job, or lead a normal life. She was hospitalized several more times for depression. Jackie still continues to struggle with depression, but she refuses to allow the condition to rob her of her voice. She speaks out against the stigma that surrounds depression - ,it is not a willful act,, she says, ,People with depression are just the same as anyone else who is battling a disease., Today, Jackie holds down a full time job with the Canadian centre for addiction and mental health. This video is part of TVO's Mental Health Matters series - an in-depth exploration of the state of mental health in our society.