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2 NEWS : ; © gE Fy © 2 3 &ws STEVE LEBLANC & sleblanc@miltoncanadian 5 champion.com - = Mental health is not a 2 competition. E As obvious as that 5 Snlg be, Kelly Scanlan c 8 Bell Let's Talk video. Saxe On the receiving end of = many 'well, that's nothing compared to what you've gone through' comments during her time as a staunch advocate for men- tal health awareness, the 26-year-old Miltonian urg- es Canadians to offer sup- port to those in need rather than rank their struggles. "People -+drown_ .in * oceans and people drown ginsidehalton.com in pools and people drown in bathtubs. Everyone just «as to stop worrying about how much water some- one's drowning in and fo- cus on the fact that some- one's drowning." Having found her way out of the darkness after Bell Let's Talk photo Kelly Scanlan (left) meets with Olympian and mental health champion Clara Hughes during the Bell Let's Talk campaign. years battling Post Trau- matic Stress Injury (PTSI), anxiety, depression and a serious leg wound follow- ing her tour of Afghani- stan at age 19, Scanlan is now part of the Bell Let's Talk team that took the so- "cial media spotlight yester- day. The opportunity -- borne from her participa- tion in last fall's Toronto Invictus Games, where she captured swimming gold and bronze for her country -- was one the new part- time firefighter eagerly Tradyo Turns Your Clutter Into Cash. embraced. ; "I thought the Invictus Garhes were big, but this is way bigger," said Scanlan, one of 50 Bell Let's Talk spokespeople who champi- oned the call for more men- tal. health awareness and education and more finan- cial support for support services. She recently spent time in Montreal, * where she was part of com- prehensive promotional work and met campaign centrepiece Clara Hughes. "The" - Invictus Games helped me overcome my struggles, and now Bell Let's Talk is giving me the tools to help others. I've been lucky. Since the Invic- tus Games, I've almost been preparing for this (Bell Let's Talk). it's been 'escalating (talking about mental health issues) and now this is the next step. "I've met with so many people across the country with their own struggles . and triumphs. It's been a whirlwind." N RBC CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF RECOGNIZING IMMIGRANT ACHIEVERS Do you know an inspiring immigrant who has made a positive impact in Canada? Recognize and celebrate their achievements by nominating them for this coveted national award by Feb 27, 2048. 2018 NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN Visit ¢ Tile sponsor Royal Bank ToP2% CANADIAN IMMIGRANT (vara Qn adianimi nigrant Presented by CANADIAN Milton veteran serves as Bell Let's Talk spokesperson 'People drown in oceans and people drown in pools.and people drown in bathtubs. Everyone just has to stop worrying about how much water someone's drowning in and focus on the fact that someone's drowning.' -- Kelly Scanlan, Bell Let's Talk spokesperson: "Scanlan struggled with going public about her' mental health issues for what seemed like an eter- nity. "I kept it close to the chest. I told very few peo- ple in my extended family and friends. There was the stigma and the fear of what people would think, and then also what that might mean for my future in uni- form." That, last concern proved groundless, as Scanlan has received over- whelming support from her fellow firefighters since joining the Milton CA/ TD top Z Media sponsors ya metr ranks late last year. She said, "That was a huge relief to me. They've been just fantastic. I was so scared to do-it (talk about PTSI) the first time; but af- ter that it became easier and easier.' For every dpplicable text, call, tweet and social media video viewed yester- day, Bell donated five cents', toward 'mental health inj- tiatives and support net- works. "Hopefully people will be as engaged as previous years and we can continue to build these services," said Scanlan. mi