Recently, Margaret Trudeau has gone public with her struggle with a bi-polar illness. Her story was a sad one but, thanks to her courage and her honesty, it is also a story of hope. She encouraged people to seek help and to ignore the stigma of mental illness. It is a message of self-respect and healing.

In recent years, there have been many celebrities and other public figures coming forward with their personal experiences with mental illness, whereas before it would be a closely guarded secret that could potentially destroy their lives and their careers. By risking scandal and coming forward with their stories, they help everyone who suffers from mental illness to seek help and to shoulder the burden of stigma with pride.