It’s a long walk to beating the stigmas around mental health and one northern B.C. woman is (literally) walking a long way to prove that point.
Sandra McArthur is embarking on a personal, spiritual journey across the north central region of the province, walking through Prince George today (May 31) after beginning in Prince Rupert on May 12.
#CCWalk has begun for Sandra McArthur & @CarrierSekaniFS in Prince George! Be aware that walkers will be along #BCHwy16 this morning heading into the city | #CityOfPG @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/8PxDAtqYRW
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) May 31, 2019
Dubbed the Community Compassion Walk (CCWalk), her end goal is to be in Kamloops on June 21, which would make up more than 1,200 km of distance showing compassion for each community she passes through.
“The walk has been extremely eventful and it’s been a learning process,” she said to PrinceGeorgeMatters. “We’ve been managing to meet a number of people since we started. ”
In 2015, McArthur’s second son Quinnton lost his battle with mental health issues by taking his own life.
As a way to help heal her grief and give hope to others struggling with the stigma, she’s developed a ‘start talking and keep talking’ philosophy by enduring this lengthy journey.
“Every step counts,” she said with passion. “If two people can walk two people can talk, and why are they walking? It’s because they want to start talking about mental health, that we’re aware that it’s out there, and that we’re there as a community to help support one other.”
Sandra McArthur’s message is simple, if 2 people can walk, 2 people can talk. The walk stems from losing her son to suicide, adding every step counts, regardless of a person’s journey through life | #CityOfPG #CCWalk @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/VgSqdtbilb
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) May 31, 2019
McArthur was joined by Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFC) for her walk through the city, starting at the Welcome sign on Highway 16 west of the city and finished her day at the organization’s building on Queensway.
She said she’s in good health since the start of the CCWalk and is grateful that other people join her along the way.
“I feel energized when someone walks with me. That, to me, is a success. I get energized whenever I meet with communities and talk with community members, especially when it comes from our youth and from our elders. It’s powerful to be able to listen to two different generations and their insight on the walk and through their walk of life as well.”
Moving forward in the days and weeks to come before Kamloops, she encourages everyone stuck in a rut with mental illness to speak up and talk, because all it takes is a little vulnerability.
“The hope is that everyone who is feeling at that one place of loneliness, that they know they’re not alone, that there are people out there they can reach out to, and if they can’t help them, we can definitely find somebody who can. So, the message is all about cultivating hope.”
McArthur also believes each B.C. city and town would consider adding a healing centre where people can talk and have a safe place to go.
.@CarrierSekaniFS is joining for the Prince George portion of Sandra McArthur’s journey. She started in Prince Rupert in May 12 & is scheduled to reach the end in Kamloops on June 21 | #CityOfPG #CCWalk @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/xc0dtGe5YD
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) May 31, 2019
