Rich's Story

“I stayed inside my basement for about a year. I rarely left. I went through the process of covering my windows with cardboard. I was in this darkness – emotionally, but even literally. I didn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, it just never appeared to me that this was ever going to end.”

• The impact of his father’s health tragedy on Rich’s own health
• Struggling with emotions and feeling alone
• Struggling at university
• Isolation
• Attempting suicide
• Reaching out
• Building supports
• Surrounding himself in positive environments

“I was slowly able to build myself to be able to talk about the depressive thoughts and feelings that were inside of me. I was able to get help from my friends, family, and eventually a doctor, and then a psychologist.”

“I’ve learned that now I can live a life with depression, yet still be happy. And that I’m worth that.”

– Rich, mental health advocate