Margaret Trudeau says community support helped her live with bipolar disorder

Margaret Trudeau suffered in silence from her bipolar disorder for years before coming out publicly in 2006.

After the death of her son Michel in 1998 and her ex-husband and former prime minister Pierre Trudeau just two years later, Margaret sought treatment for an illness she had battled without help for so long.

• Listen to Margaret Trudeau's full Daybreak interview here

She checked herself into the Royal Ottawa Hospital in 2001 and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder shortly thereafter.

I had no idea there was such a thin line between sanity and insanity. I got pushed right to the edge by tragedy in my life, and I couldnt stand up, I couldnt recover, she told CBC Montreal Daybreak host MikeFinnertythis morning.

I was so surprised, astonished, when I lost my mind, because I didnt think that I ever would. I assumed I would always be just fine, she continued.

Project PAL helps fill gaps in care

Trudeau had nothing but praise for Project PAL, the charity chosen this year to benefit from CBC Montreals annual Sing-In.

• Project PAL helps city's vulnerable fill often-invisible needs

Project PAL emerged to fill a void left by a push for de-institutionalization in the 1970s that left many people with mental health issues to fend for themselves.

Founded by a social worker and former patients, the bilingual organization first aimed to help those leavinghospital find housing.

Now more than 50 people rely on its supportive housing service and would most likely be homeless if it wasnt available, said Project PAL coordinator Angela Murphy.

Community support essential to recovery

Trudeau said that, for years, she had difficulty in admitting she had a mental illness. She made for good tabloid fodder in the 1970s, during which time she was known for behaving erratically and going on numerous escapades while Prime Minister Trudeau was in office.

I was so surprised, astonished, when I lost my mind, because I didnt think that I ever would.- Margaret Trudeau

She has attributed much of her wild behaviour to her then-undiagnosed bipolar disorder. She was able to come to grips with the illness when, after checking herself into the hospital, she realized everyone around her was suffering in the same way.

She said she realizes she was particularly fortunate to be able to reclaim her life and her family after leaving hospital. She said she had community support to thank for that.

You need community support. Youre pretty defeated when youre laid low with a mental illness. Its a frightening place to be, and to get up and be able to stand and to move forward and to start functioning again, you need so much support, she said. You need to feel youre not alone.

Go here to see our live CBC Montreal Sing-In blog.