Good afternoon Ministers: Please see the Petition that I have started as of August 4, 2017. Today being the 17 of August, 2017, we have received over 32,160 signatures. Your people are speaking to you. Your people are pleading with you to help save our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, husband and wives, father and mothers. The suicide rate in Canada has sky-rocketed both in the cities but moreso the rural areas of our provinces. I have given two interviews, both with CBC Radio, St. John's, NL and Charlottetown, PEI, regarding the petition. I have heard from our Minister of Education here in NL and have listened to Minister of Education, Dave Currie being interviewed by CBC Radio, Charlottetown. I commend the efforts that are being made by, hopefully, each province, to ensure Mentall Illness is being taught in our schools throughout Canada. I am, however, a tad concerned over the reasoning behind it. From what I understand, there are talks of Nurses, Occupational Therapists, and the like, planning to visit some schools to open up the communication regarding Mental Illness in hopes that those who are suffering from this debilitating disease will come forward to "talk" about what they are going through. This is all well and good but please, take it from me, and thousands of others who suffer with depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, bulimia, anorexia, anger disorders, etc...there are days when we cannot get out of bed, days that we cannot shower, days that we hate ourselves as well as those who are around us - days when we care for nothing and no person. A child / youth who is going through this will NEVER in a thousand years come to an office to discuss with a stranger what they are going through and how they are feeling. It will not happen. I ask you, no, plead with you to PLEASE understand this!!!! We suffer on the inside while others lash out at those around them. We want someone who is going to be with us in the long run and not someone who will "visit" the school every now and then to see how things are going. Secondly, I've heard the topic of MONEY come up by Minister Currie during his interview. I could not help but to literally laugh out loud and say "oh, there it is". Let me ask each of you...think about your children and grandchildren. Would you sell them for the almighty dollar? Would you put a pistol to their heads and pull that trigger if it meant keeping our Country of Canada out of the "red"? Would you sell them into slavery? No??? I'm praying that you said no!!! Then WHY is the topic of money brought into view concerning this matter? By bringing Mental Illness Education into the curriculum, we are saving precious, precious lives. We are preparing them for battle. We are preparing them better on how to deal with what may lay ahead in their future. We are talking about our youth and trying our HARDEST to save lives!!!!!! Do you know how hard it is to lose a child to suicide? The questions that follow - Why? What could I have done? Why didn't I see the symptoms? Why didn't anyone help? How are we going to survive this ordeal? The cries of the family members and friends are horrific and haunting! Nothing can ease the pain of not seeing your sweet child sit across from you at the other side of the dining room table. An empty bedroom with the light left on for months because you don't want their spirit to come home to a dark room. You want them to know, even tho they are gone, that a light is left on for them because you wait for their return. I pray that none of you will ever have to go through this torment and torture. Thirdly, we want help for our young children in the schools NOT to see a better rise in their marks!!!!! This is ridiculous!!!!! Marks are the LAST thing on our minds, Ministers. We want education in the schools simply to prepare our children for what they may indeed face or are facing, at the present moment. Marks will not help them stop taking a handful of pills or tying a noose in the rope. Begin to think a little deeper as to what Mental Illness Education means to this generation and all generations to come!! PLEASE, from the bottom of your hearts, do the right thing. The reports show help being prepared but it's merely the tip of the iceburg. Textbooks are KEY!!! Bring the education into the classrooms as part of the curriculum. I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you. Please, take a moment to check the Petition and notice the cries for help from your people - Canada!! God bless you all. Kindest regards, Rhonda Dicks