Hey, there! 

Now, I think I can guess what’s going through your mind right now. You’re thinking, “Wow, another media ambassador!” and you’re absolutely right. Some of you might know me from past DTLs, some might have a vague feeling of familiarity as you stare at my photo, and some of you might have never seen me before at all. Since we’ve got a mix in the crowd, allow me to introduce myself! 

My name is Dana and I’m going to tell you a little bit about what I’m doing here on your screen. Before I get to that, I want to share some things about me so that we can get to know each other. I’m a student in my last year completing a double major in psychology and kinesiology at one of Western University’s affiliated colleges, Brescia University College. I love to read, play tennis, bake, rock climb, run, longboard, watch TV (anyone a Brooklyn Nine-Nine fan?), and I have an obsession with dogs that could be called unhealthy. I love impromptu adventures, dancing when no one’s around, and exploring new skills/places. But my truest love is supporting others facing mental health challenges and being a youth mental health advocate. 

My struggle with my mental health started in high school. It got to an incredibly low point and I had to stay in hospital for nearly a month. As difficult as it was, I’m grateful for that stay because it allowed me to get connected with a great care team there, as well as with a mental health agency in my community – Skylark (although, I think they have a new name now). It’s at Skylark where I began my journey with The New Mentality. I was having a tough time at home and my therapist thought it would be good for me to do some volunteering to get out of the house. I liked helping others and Skylark was just starting up their TNM group again, so I thought, “Hey, why not?”. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I met an amazing group of people and worked with them to make cool projects such as workshops, a pride event, and a podcast. 

After those first months with my TNM group, I was lucky enough to attend my very first DTL. I had heard great things about DTL, that it was a magical place and there was no experience like it. It definitely lived up to the hype and I knew I wanted to come back the next year. Unfortunately, when I started university I moved away and couldn’t be as involved with my TNM group at Skylark as much as I wanted to be. 

So, I went from being an active member to a TMN group alumni. I’ll always hold my TNM group close to my heart as it put me on a path of getting involved in leadership roles in mental health. Since then, I have worked on various youth engagement initiatives and research projects at CAMH. I am a peer supporter at my school, a Crisis Responder for Kids Help Phone, and I have been on the DTL Hosting Team for the past 3 years – all things I would have never done if not for my start with Skylark. 

I’m excited and honored to start this role as a media ambassador. I want to share my knowledge and experiences to hopefully help anyone going through something similar. Thanks for tuning in and see you all again soon!

We are  so excited to have Dana as our Media Ambassador! If you have any questions please email info@thenewmentality.ca