Breakfast of Champions highlights mental health impact on family

Mental health impact on family focus of talk At the Breakfast of Champions, the effect mental health issues can have on a family was the focus. CTV London’s Celine Moreau explains.

Mental health doesn’t just affect the patient, but the entire family.

That was one of the messages during the Breakfast Of Champions hosted by St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Author and keynote speaker for the event Mark Lukach took to the stage and shared his family’s mental health journey.

Lukach’s wife, Giulia, has bipolar disorder and spent years in and out of psychiattic wards in the U.S. with psychosis and suicidal depression.

Lukach highlighted the challenges family members face caring for a loved one with mental illness and the toll it takes on the entire family.

Proceeds from this morning's breakfast will go to the Zero Suicide initiative, which is a quality improvement model aimed at reducing suicides and attempted suicides.