A power point presentation introducing Clint Marlachuk brought tears to his eyes as he watched Kiprusoff, Macdonald and Irving saving goal after goal. “Those are my kids” he cried in a heartfelt moment, a reminder that his efforts as Flames Goaltending Coach have paid off.
Marlachuk along with his wife Joanie came to the High School on Tuesday, May 7 to give a presentation to the grade 10 students for the National Child and Youth Mental Health Day. He himself suffers from mental illness and is an advocate from the Flames. Each Canadian NHL team has a representative promoting awareness due to the recent suicides that have rocked the league. Facing a crowd of somewhat disinterested students having to listen to yet another presentation, Marlachuk immediately had them sitting up in their seats when he disclosed that they were looking at a man with a bullet still lodged in his head.
In his “what you see is what you get” manner Marlachuk made no apologies for who he and shared his courageous journey in coming to terms with his mental illness. Growing up Marlachuk suffered from anxiety and OCD, and later depression. Self admittedly not of the scholastic bend, his passion and obsession was hockey. An older brother was the more skilled player, but Marlachuk had what he terms the “work ethic” which he believes stems from OCD and helped him persist in his career. In its mild forms it stimulates us to move and strive, in the disorder end of the spectrum moves into compulsive and disabling actions such as the classic symptoms of hand washing and continual checking to see if the stove is turned off.
He believes that he had a predisposition to anxiety and growing up with a very abusive father only exacerbated the condition. Still he moved into his career with this determination and drive. In a horrific on ice accident while playing for the Buffalo Sabres Marlachuk almost lost his life when a player’s skate blade severed his jugular vein. He truly believed he was on death’s door. After his recovery from the incident his career declined and Marlachuk was sent to the minors. He found himself in a deep depression but found a life saving doctor in San Diego who turned his life around. The craziness that Marlachuk found as a constant companion was alleviated by drug therapy. Previous doctors and there were many of them could not provide him with relief from his pain through talk therapy. The chemical imbalance in his brain that was causing this pain was rectified by adjusting his serotonin levels with medication.
Marlachuk was able to resurrect his hockey career for over 15 years. Then a downward spiral occurred from a combination of not staying in touch with his doctor and developing immunity to the drugs he was taking. He started to self medicate with alcohol, a depressant which long term only worsened his condition and refused help from his family and friends. In 2008 his wife Joan came home to find him bleeding from a gunshot wound to his head. Amazingly again he survived and with help, was able to deal with the PTSD he unknowingly was still suffering from in regards to the skate blade accident.
The biggest message that Marlachuk wants us to take away from his own experience is to have no embarrassment of mental illness. He believes that many who suffer are great actors hiding what they go through and he encourages us not to be silent about it, “talk to friends and family, or teachers, counselors, don’t be scared about our emotions, and don’t be afraid to be honest”. He tells us people are more compassionate than we believe. Find your faith in whatever way that is, for Marlachuk it is in Christianity. Above all don’t give up and find someone to talk about it.
Joanie, the love of Marlachuk’s life and biggest supporter, was able to add her view on successfully managing and coping with OCD. “It’s about putting yourself first”, done in many ways. Taking the time to eat properly and get enough sleep. Saying no to people even good friends because if they are truly good friends they will understand. It can become so easy to lose yourself to all the others in your life, whether people or activities. Find the things in your life that truly nourish you and cultivate them. It sounds like bringing awareness on a regular basis to one’s life through grounding. The Marlachuk family finds great pleasure and release on their ranch tending to their dogs and horses.
Assistant Principle Jordan Fenton, good friend and supporter of Marlachuk was presented with his own coach’s jacket in a gesture acknowledging his own compassion as well as going above and beyond for his students and friends.
We can only hope that the great courage shown by this superstar spokesman and coach will inspire his audience to seek help and not suffer, knowing that chemical imbalances happen much like diabetes can happen and there is no stigma in that, that life is worth living and fighting for even when it can feel like an overwhelming battle.
