Sometimes when you are passionate about something you have to take a stand.
Or in this case walk.
That's what Citadel middle school student Renee Boldut is doing Thursday, May 7 and she wants the community to join her.
The event, called a Walk for Awareness, is taking place during Mental Health Week and the goal is to end the stigma around mental illness, said Boldut, who is in Grade 8 at the Port Coquitlam school.
"Dealing with problems around physical health is so easy, but it's not the same for mental illness. I just wanted to get the word out there."
For her generation, mental illness is no longer a bad word, and thanks to celebrities talking about their depression and other mental health concerns, the stigma is lessening.
But Boldut said even amongst her teenage friends, there are still taboos around discussing feelings of depression, and anxiety, and among some of her peers, eating disorders are becoming a problem.
"The first step is acknowledging it and talking about it but a lot of people are afraid to talk about mental health and I want to end the stigma."
Together with her school's youth counsellor, Karen Leeden, Boldut started pulling together elements of a community event. It was an idea she developed for her Passion Project at school and she hopes other people will show up and take part.
The free event, which starts at 3:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium, will include presentations from mental health workers, displays, pamphlets, and a chance to purchase items with proceeds going to the FORCE Society for Kids' Mental Health. As well, local businesses have donated snacks and food that will be available by donation.
So far Boldut has had good reception from her school and her classmates but she would like to reach out to other members of the community. "This is an opportunity to join young people for a good cause."
The walk is expected to start at 4 p.m. The school is located at 1265 Citadel Dr., Port Coquitlam.
