Editor’s Note: Warning – this story discusses suicide.

When I worked as a Property Tax Assessor, I took on the task of updating the property record of a large farm.  Each building on the premises was painstakingly measured, photographed, described and appraised, and included in a site sketch.  

From barns to silos, it became clear each structure played an important role in the farm’s operation.

Silos aren’t just found on farms.

Many workplaces operate in silos – everyone doing their bit yet no knowledge is transferred or exchanged.

Departments don’t share relevant information with each other.

Levels of government – municipal, provincial and federal – often go it alone instead of working together.

Elected officials offer statements instead of speaking directly to the media. The public is left with questions which further erodes trust in institutions.

We’ve all witnessed, or worse, been a part of environments where decisions were made with little to no consultation with the people most directly impacted.

And to quote Dr Phil from his early days of television “How’s that working for ya?”

It’s not.

Good, caring employees who take pride in their work become frustrated and angry that their input and experience isn’t valued. The frustration intensifies until they quiet quit, burnout or leave their occupation altogether.

The old ways of doing things no longer work (if they ever did). Systems are crashing -no longer able to carry the weight of society’s growing demands. Governments can’t fix it all assuming there was a will – yet some still cling to that hope.

The fact remains … no one is coming to save us. It’s up to us to save ourselves.

I see silos in other aspects of life too.

People doing their own thing, independent of one another, often for admirable causes and reasons, yet still working in silos.

We’ve bought into the idea that we must go it alone. We don’t like to ask for help because it’s a perceived sign of weakness.

After beating my head against the wall over the years in an effort to change environments and mindsets, I realized real change only comes when we work together. There is strength in numbers.

I ask myself if this blog is yet another silo.

When I started to write, it was a creative outlet to share my experience with burnout – a topic not discussed nearly enough. Eventually, the blog grew to include multiple publications per week from a variety of contributors. Asking people who are not professional writers to share personal stories in a hectic world was a big ask that stretched comfort zones. There were many times content was thin but someone always came through. Maybe my good fortune has run out – time will tell.

Each story creates empathy and awareness of the world around us.

But there’s something much bigger at play here.

As painful emotions surface – unresolved trauma and past hurts – people are suffering, particularly men, often in silence. Many of us never learned how to communicate our feelings and some may be lacking support.

The highly publicized suicide of NHL star Claude Lemieux last week, days after his smiling face was photographed as he carried the torch at the Bell Centre before Game 3 of the NHL conference finals, is proof people from all walks of life are slipping through the cracks.

Closer to home, Clinton Ellison, a survivor of the 2020 Portapique mass shooting in Nova Scotia died by suicide last month in Fredericton. His father Richard indicated Clinton suffered from severe PTSD and trauma from what happened and he was never the same. ‘He was a changed person’: Clinton Ellison, survivor of Portapique mass shooting, dies | CBC News

Did you know the mental health needs of 41% of Canadian adults and 36% of children are not being met? Many Canadians with mental health disorders are not having their needs met | CIHI

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has – Margaret Mead

The topic of mental health makes people uncomfortable. It’s not a sexy topic but it’s an important one. I can no longer sit back waiting for help that may never come. Sharing experiences in a safe environment may seem insignificant but it’s a start.

I like to imagine what could be accomplished, the social problems we could solve, if we harnessed our energy as a collective. Government, non-profits, organizations, communities, and individuals all working for the common good.

No more silos. 

A lot of people are struggling to keep their head above water these days. It can all feel overwhelming at times. Believe me, I understand.

Would you like to be part of something bigger than yourself?

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Have a story to tell? Everyone does! We often think what we have to say isn’t important or won’t mean much to someone else. I disagree. Our experiences are not unique and your story could be exactly what someone needs to hear.

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