‘Many parents have lost their children’: Amanda Todd’s mom 6 years after her death
Posted October 10, 2018 4:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – It has been six years since Coquitlam teen Amanda Todd took her own life after posting a YouTube video detailing with flashcards how she had been blackmailed and bullied online.
Her mother Carol Todd is marking the anniversary of her death, which coincides with World Mental Health Day, by continuing to raise awareness about mental health issues and cyberbullying.
RELATED: Landmark buildings Light Up Purple for mental health and Amanda Todd
“It’s very heartwarming getting messages from all over and, you know, I’m not the only parent going through this,” Todd said. “Many parents have lost their children from different ages to mental health and when I see them reaching out and see them getting some hope from the campaign and the conversations it makes me feel a whole lot better that I’m doing the right thing in speaking up.”
WATCH: Amanda Todd’s mother on Ontario’s new sex ed curriculum
She said the province has come a long way in the last six years, especially with B.C. having its own Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, but she notes more needs to be done.
“My Member of Parliament started helping me with an e-petition and it’s going to be brought to the House of Commons so that we can declare [Oct. 10] World Mental Health Day in Canada, which will allow us to continue to keep the reinforcement,” Todd added.
RELATED: Amanda Todd’s accused killer may be extradited to Canada to face trial
Since her daughter’s death, Todd has dedicated her time to anti-bullying initiatives and has become a steward for her daughter’s legacy.
“Is a great start and I see in our system and in other provinces that it’s being brought into classrooms and curriculums and I see organizations talking about it more and putting it out there, so it won’t go away, and it shouldn’t go away, it needs to be brought up in the forefront,” Todd said.
