EJ Weston knew something was wrong in middle school but wasnB次元官网网址檛 quite sure what it was.
She didnB次元官网网址檛 understand why she was sad all of the time and couldnB次元官网网址檛 find enjoyment in anything she did. After being directed to a counsellor at Pacific Centre Family Services Association by a teacher, she was able to talk about some of the things she was experiencing. While it was great to have someone to talk to once a week, Weston admits she didnB次元官网网址檛 feel any better.
ItB次元官网网址檚 only then that she realized she was suffering from depression.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like walking with a broken ankle, you can walk and itB次元官网网址檚 going to hurt, but itB次元官网网址檚 not going to get better, itB次元官网网址檚 going to get worse and you wonB次元官网网址檛 be able to walk in a couple of years,B次元官网网址� said the now 18-year-old, who is raising awareness about mental health next week.
She was also suffering from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, as a result of trauma she went through as a child.
It was only after attending her final year at Royal Bay Secondary school that she decided to get help at the West Shore Child Youth and Family Services Society on Wale Road.
While Weston is still dealing with depression, she hopes youth facing similar challenges will be able to access the services they need to deal with mental health issues. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why sheB次元官网网址檚 organizing the third annual Start the Conversation Conference at Royal Bay, with the goal of connecting youth with physical, mental and emotional health resources.
As part of the conference, roughly 18 to 20 community organizations across Greater Victoria and Vancouver, including Girl Gang Body Positivity, the Umbrella Society, Pacific Centre Family Services Association, Threshold Society, AIDS Vancouver Island and Island Sexual Health, will set up booths at the school.
In addition, mental health advocate Shilpa Narayanan from Vancouver will make two morning presentations to students, where sheB次元官网网址檒l talk about her own mental health journey. Acupuncture and yoga will also be available.
B次元官网网址淲hat I want youth to take away is that itB次元官网网址檚 something that weB次元官网网址檙e talking about. TheyB次元官网网址檙e not abnormal if theyB次元官网网址檙e going through this and to give them resources to access this stuff. Even if I help one person, then my job is done and IB次元官网网址檒l be happy,B次元官网网址� said Weston, noting itB次元官网网址檚 an event put on by youth for youth.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important to show the younger generations that this stuff is talked about because when I was in middle school, we didnB次元官网网址檛 talk about it and it would have helped a lot if I saw someone close to my age was organizing this at a school I was about to go to.B次元官网网址�
On Feb. 27, Weston has also organized a panel discussion for parents with mental health professionals from 7 to 9 p.m. The Start the Conversation conference takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 28, the same date as Pink Shirt Day, and booths will be open from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Royal BayB次元官网网址檚 learning commons.
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