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Instead, Rebecca Kendall saw it as another one of many lessons Munsch has passed along over the years.

鈥淚 looked at it as a teachable moment,鈥� Kendall, 35, said Monday. 鈥�(Taya) is only 9 but these are issues that affect countless Canadians. I felt it would be a really good opportunity to talk about them.鈥�

Kendall had seen advance promos about Munsch鈥檚 interview, which aired Saturday on a Global news program, so mother and daughter sat down together in their Guelph home and watched as he spoke about his life and battles with mental illness, alcohol and, in the past five years, cocaine.

Munsch, who has spoken about his struggles with mental illness in the past, said he has been clean and sober for four months and attends a 12-step program.

Kendall鈥檚 father has a mental illness and she recalls her confusion growing up at a time when people avoided the subject, or just resorted to mocking and labels.

鈥淚t鈥檚 commendable for (Munsch) to step up and share his story,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t puts a recognizable face on an issue a lot of people face and just don鈥檛 talk about.鈥�

She said may help some of the many children and youth dealing with mental illness and addiction themselves or in their families, who were raised on Munsch鈥檚 stories.

To Taya, who listened closely, Munsch鈥檚 message was that talking about distressing feelings can help. And hiding them 鈥渃an actually make things worse.鈥�

The Grade 4 student got to know Munsch last year when she and published his story Braids to raise money for AIDS orphans in Kenya.

After hearing about some of his struggles, 鈥淚 actually felt a lot of respect towards him,鈥� Taya said Monday. 鈥淗e鈥檚 really brave.鈥�

The Kendalls were among many offering words of support for Munsch, 64, who also issued a on his website. He wrote that he has been diagnosed as obsessive-compulsive and manic-depressive, which 鈥渓ed me to make some big mistakes.鈥�

He said his friends and family had been a big support to him over the years and 鈥淚 hope that others will also understand.

鈥淚 hope that everyone will talk to their kids honestly, listen to them, and help them do their best with their own challenges.鈥�

Don Jones, who has produced Munsch鈥檚 tours for the past 25 years, says the positive reaction from fans and colleagues has been strong.

Out of hundreds of emails, only one has been negative, he said.

There have been no cancellations for his 20-show tour in Western Canada, which starts next week. And on Monday, 鈥渢icket sales went crazy鈥� and three schools were added to the roster.

鈥淚 was pleasantly surprised,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been nothing but positive.鈥�

On its website, Munsch鈥檚 publisher, , also applauded the author for speaking out.

鈥淲e commend him for being so open, for reaching out to others, and we wish him continued strength,鈥� director Rick Wilks said in a statement.

At , president Margaret Eaton said 鈥渨e鈥檙e very supportive鈥� and cited the author鈥檚 commitment to promoting family literacy over the past seven years.

Jones said Munsch, now on holiday for a few days with his family, wanted to send a message to parents 鈥渢o stay on top of their kids鈥� and keep talking to them.

Child psychologist David Wolfe says encouraging kids to talk about whatever might be bothering them is an important one, even for those too young to grasp the details of mental illness or addiction.

For a successful and popular figure like Munsch to speak out provides more evidence of how mental health and addiction do not discriminate 鈥� and can happen regardless of intelligence, social class or profession, said Wolfe, of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

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