One of 16 Alberta youth honoured at the 2018 Great Kid Awards was Airdrie’s Kate Metcalfe, who made waves earlier this year when she spearheaded W.H. Croxford High School’s Movement for Mental Health.
Metcalfe, 17, said she underwent a bout with anxiety and depression last year that landed her in the hospital. She’s since improved, but she said her recovery inspired her to push for change.
“Originally, when I was diagnosed, I was really embarrassed about it,” Metcalfe said. “I didn’t want to talk about it with anyone – even with my own parents, it was tough.”
Eventually, she said she learned to open up.
“I realized I didn’t want to tell anyone, and I started asking why,” she said. “It was because of negative perceptions around mental health.”
According to Metcalfe, it was her family, friends and therapist that brought her back into good health. It took five months, she said, but once she was better, she knew she had to share her lessons.
She became an advocate for mental health at Croxford, encouraging other students to get help if they needed it. A support group, she said, is what got her through, and she knew it would help others, as well.
“I probably would have done a lot better if I had talked about it sooner, but I didn’t, and that’s why things got so bad,” Metcalfe said.
“I know I’m not a unique case. Lots of people out there have experienced the same thing, and that’s an issue.”
In March 2018, Metcalfe spearheaded the Movement for Mental Health at Croxford, which raised $30,000 for mental health needs in Airdrie. She donated that money to the Thumbs-Up Foundation.
Marked by her commitment to continue reducing the stigma around mental health, she was recognized at the 18th Annual Great Kids Awards as a role model and leader.
Metcalfe dedicated the award to everyone in her support circle – the people she said allowed her to be where she is. Her next step is to continue advancing her leadership at university in New Brunswick.
