2024-01-12 03:48:45
The last days of TVA journalist Gaétan Girouard, a beloved media figure whose suicide shook the province in January 1999, were those of a tormented man who nevertheless refused to ask for help.
His relatives painted, in the documentary “Gaétan Girouard: onde de choc” broadcast Thursday evening on TVA, a portrait as disturbing as it is touching of the life of this pioneering journalist who constantly aimed for perfection.
A prominent figure in the media and on the show “JE” who, on the surface, was not afraid of anything, Gaétan Girouard hid his demons deep inside.
“Several years ago, I think he was 15-16 years old, he had already thought regarding suicide. Gilles Dion, his best friend, found him in his department quite depressed,” his widow, Natalie Préfontaine, told host and producer Jean-Philippe Dion.
Revealing last days
In the last months and days of his life, Gaétan Girouard gradually broke down, but without seeking help, except from his family doctor who diagnosed him with depression, without telling anyone.
On November 30, he participated in the coverage of election night, an exercise that he found particularly difficult. Two weeks later, he passed out while taping an episode of “JE.”
However, six days before his suicide, Gaétan Girouard gave a conference. “If you look at the conference, if you look at Gaétan’s dynamic, we don’t have at all, but not at all the impression that this guy is going to commit suicide a few days later,” underlined his work partner. , Jocelyne Cazin.
Two days before taking his own life, he had opened up somewhat to his colleague. “He told me: ‘Tse Jocelyne, I can’t afford anything at all. I can’t afford to be sick, I can’t allow myself to stammer, I can’t allow myself to be imperfect “, she recalled.
Then, the next day, his partner went to join him in Quebec. “He was so cold, he was shivering. He hadn’t slept for so many days that his body mightn’t get back on track,” she said. As he was leaving, he seemed to be trying to say something to Natalie Préfontaine, before changing his mind and settling for a “have a good day”.
On January 14, Gaétan Girouard did not show up for work, which worried his colleagues and his partner who had already been alarmed during the previous days. His body was discovered shortly following.
Consequences
The announcement of Mr. Girouard’s death led to a wave of suicides in Quebec.
“We knew regarding this phenomenon, the possibility of a ripple effect, and that was indeed the case,” commented Marc-André Dufour, clinical psychologist.
The year 1999 ended with a 15% increase in the number of suicides in the province. In several cases, people in distress have even taken action in the same way as Gaétan Girouard, or in possession of a photo or a newspaper article discussing the journalist’s death.
This event changed the way the media covered suicide cases. “There is a before and following the suicide of Gaétan Girouard for the media. Fortunately, we were able to learn from all that,” underlined Marc-André Dufour.
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