| Hans-Günter Meyer-Thompson | international
My brother
My brother
Kaylynn Purdy
CMAJ September 13, 2021 193 (36) E1433-E1434; doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.210648
Dr. Kaylynn Purdy shares the sad but all too familiar story of her brother, Blake, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his mid-twenties, subsequently developed a substance use disorder and died from an overdose. She witnessed the tragic way in which our society treats persons with mental health issues and substance use disorders and the stigma and isolation that occurs, which only compounds their suffering. Dr. Purdy captures the humanity of her brother, and his story is a reminder to us as a society to remember that humanity as we encounter people who are homeless, struggling with mental illness or substance use disorders.