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It's been a difficult year for many of us. If you or someone you know are in need of support, Kids Help Phone provides free, confidential support via phone call, text, and messenger. Call 1-800-668-6868, text 686868, or find them on Facebook. You can also reach out to:

The Canada Suicide Prevention Service (CSPS) toll-free 1-833-456-4566 Available 24/7

First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness 24/7 Help Line 1-855-242-3310

Canadian Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line 1-866-925-4419

Trans LifeLine – All Ages 1-877-330-6366

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please contact the emergency services in your area.

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Being able to cultivate an honest and open conversation with myself and only myself has been one of the most valuable commitments I have made and continually make during this pandemic.

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The pandemic gave me time to reflect on myself, my life, and everything else in between. Even if I wish the pandemic never occurred I am grateful for this opportunity I received. School, extracurriculars, and sports made it harder for me to stay in tune with myself.

This pandemic brought so much unnecessary pain and struggle but it helped me grow in ways I never imagined. I have a better sense of what I want in life and the people that matter the most to me. I also know that when this pandemic is over, I’ll be a changed person.

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Since before the pandemic hit, I have taken my mental health for granted and did not know how much of an impact it can affect my wellbeing and life. This pandemic has opened my eyes and I have seen so much that things felt hopeless, lonely and overwhelming. Since now I have learned to cherish and protect my mental health, and find ways to heal it by doing what makes me happy. And to you, please know that you are loved everyday and taking care of your mental health is the biggest thing a pandemic will teach you. 

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Since before the pandemic hit, I have taken my mental health for granted and did not know how much of an impact it can affect my wellbeing and life. This pandemic has opened my eyes and I have seen so much that things felt hopeless, lonely and overwhelming. Since now I have learned to cherish and protect my mental health, and find ways to heal it by doing what makes me happy. And to you, please know that you are loved everyday and taking care of your mental health is the biggest thing a pandemic will teach you. 

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~C.P.

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Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness🤍

It has already been a year since the pandemic made us isolate at home!

I think we can all agree that, the situation (COVID-19) that we are all facing is not easy to live with. No longer able to see our loved ones, our friends as well as our classmates / colleagues in person, we found ourselves alone, and isolated for a long time. Yet we have adapted and evolved. We started supporting each other and to stand together in order to get through this crisis together. We chose hope instead of fear💫

That is because in each and every one of us there is a light, a spirit that can not be snuffed out, that won't give up. We are going to get through this. Until then, hope that you will remember that you can all be heroes. Take care of each other, be kind and respect yourself as well as those around you. Always remember that in every moment of darkness, there is a light to find somewhere. You are stronger than you think:)

2020 as been a really though year for everyone. Me included. But it also made me grow. Indeed, during that year, I opened my eyes to the world, and I learned important new things. I discovered a strength that I didn’t even know I had by growing through what I have been through. I am now strongly mentally equipped which is something positive a take from this precise year. 2020.

Never lose hope! You can find something positive in everything that happens to you💕

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Because of support and family and friends I learned that there is always light at the end of the tunnel

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This year has been really hard for a lot of people. Jobs have been taken away. Stores shut down, and such forth. This year for me has sucked. I used to be a social person, and touch was me showing love. Hugs, etc. My depression got real bad and I went in therapy. Got less confident and stuff. You just have to learn to look for the positive in life. And so I did. Now I love my body, my attitude, and I am so much happier. You can do this.

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This year was very different and much tougher than normal for my community. But despite all of this we kept the conversation going, kept running inuatives and programs to support our students. The conversation needs to keep moving forward and I won't stop advocating for those we need it most.

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I began this journey not knowing what to expect, but I grew so much as an individual. I was constantly being inspired by the passionate individuals with which I worked and they would never cease to surprise me. I was able to lead events that I never thought was possible and confide and converse with other mental health advocates. It was a really enriching experience and I can't wait for what the future holds.

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This year has been a huge chaos, there were lots of ups and downs. But it made me realize that I needed to spend some time to take care of myself. My parents, teachers and friends have helped through it all.

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Before the Pandemic hit, I was working a full-time job and taking a full course load while feeling burnt out. This past year has been filled with self-reflection and practicing self-care. For the first time in a while, I took some time for myself and made some meaningful change in my life — I moved out, left my job of two years, took up running and journaling, I applied for the BSW program and refocused my passion on the things important to me.

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This year has truly taught me that things can change quickly without much notice. One day you’re in your first year of university hanging with friends the next you’re in lockdown wearing masks in stores because of a virus. It also taught me how quickly your mental health can change. How you can be doing well for weeks or months and then suddenly you’re at the lowest point you’ve been. That being said it’s important to make changes to support yourself. Reaching out for help from different organizations. Find a therapist and if that one dosent work find one that does. Life can change but you can make changes that you have control over to take care of yourself. And in the end it will all be okay. So here’s to everyone who made changes this year or had changes that they couldn’t control. I see you I hear you bud most importantly I am so proud of you.

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Trigger warning: mention of abusive relationship.

The pandemic truly changed my life. My significant other of 4+ years had just moved to NYC before it started. We anticipated a LDR, but not one like this (with a border lockdown). Communication became difficult and he became abusive.  After all we had been through, I was completely traumatized and broken. I live completely alone and he was my best friend. My mental health suffered tremendously, but the fact that I am still here today makes me believe I am a stronger person than ever before.

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I learned of a different perspective to connections during the pandemic.

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I learned of a different perspective to connections during the pandemic.

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During the past year, it is quite obvious that we have been alone for a while. No school, parent, or life coach could have anticipated or taught me this. In the beginning, events that I looked forward to were suddenly cancelled, and I found myself mourning lost events like how I mourned lost loved ones. I noticed my mental health deteriorating rapidly, and I also found that friendship gatherings were replaced with virtual meetings.

It's no secret that this was the worst part of my life. But as each month rolled by, I began to realize the value of friendships and connections like never before. I began to crave more to virtual events that involved connections and networking, and I also found myself meeting new people online that I've never met before. Despair turned into opportunity, and isolation turned into networking. I also learned new skills like graphic design which I can employ to take my mental health advocacy to a new direction.

One of the brights spots in the pandemic is that I was able to shed much of the social anxiety that I've experienced. My crave and desire to return to social events encouraged me to meet new people. It's just a part of me: bringing a new perspective to connections and networking made me realize that life is indeed worth living for.

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This past year was tough (understatement of the century), but it gave me the time and space to work on my self-worth, get my health in check, and discover what really matters to me. I'm off of medications that didn't make me feel my best, exercising more than ever before (and feeling energized and empowered by it), and I'm finding peace and happiness in quiet moments alone. I'm looking forward to taking all of this new wisdom and strength with me as the world finds its feet again.

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In the beginning of the pandemic, I noticed I was filling the space that had been been created with work. I'm lucky to have been able to work from home in the last year, but it made it easy feel "at work" all the time. That made it hard to know when I was supposed to rest.

I had no boundaries. Before long, I was burned out. My mom pointed out that I seemed to be working all the time and helped me to realize that I needed to set healthy boundaries for myself. I started signing out of my work accounts in the evenings and weekends, made sure to get something in before starting work in the morning, and made sure to take small breaks throughout my work day. I love those times of my day now and feel more grounded in my own self-care needs than I did before the pandemic.

This year has been so hard, but it's something to understand myself a bit better.