The national and local CMHA has recognized a 15-year-old Kelowna boy for his work surrounding mental health.
Finn Pihl, who was diagnosed with anxiety and depression at the age of 8, has been spreading awareness of mental health issues and fundraising for mental health projects since he was 11 years old.
“It took a very long time for me to find the help that I needed because one doctor would put in you in one place and one would put you in another and the third would refer you to the first one,” he says “So it was a cycle and I thought it had to change.”
The national Canadian Mental Health Association named Pihl as one of its 150 Leading Canadians for Mental Health while the local CMHA gave him the Community Leader Award as a Youth Volunteer. Over 2000 people were nominated for the national award.
“I’m sure there are other people who deserve the award way more than me but I’m very grateful that I was awarded them,” Pihl says “Nobody does it for the awards but it kind of solidifies that I am doing the right thing and I’m making my way to helping people more.”
In addition to doing public speaking events to try and end stigma around mental health, Pihl helped fundraise, and raise awareness, for Foundry, Kelowna’s first mental health centre for youth that opened in August.
With plans to continue his advocacy into adult-hood, Pihl says nothing makes him happier than knowing he helped someone.
“I want to give people help and recommend them to people who can help but I want to spread the awareness so more people understand mental illness.”