A Nanaimo teen was able to raise money for men's mental health as a grad project, and just as importantly, was able to spark conversations on the topic.
Bradley Ney graduated from Nanaimo Christian School last month, and as a student project in his final semester, raised $2,000 for Heads Up Guys by detailing cars.
Ney said his research into men's mental health immediately drew him to Heads Up Guys, a program based at the University of British Columbia that compiles resources related to men's mental health, such as tackling depression, suicide prevention and other priorities. Ney was inspired by university students and professors who decided they couldn't sit idly with men around them "screaming for help."
Ney said boys and men are sometimes told that they need to "man up," but he thinks talking about emotions is a huge step toward personal growth.
During his fundraising efforts, he encountered people who talked to him about their struggles with mental health, and he knows those conversations wouldn't have happened if not for his initiative.
"I know quite a few people in my life who are just starting to speak up about it now as people know I've raised money and I'm interested in it," he said. "It kind of shows that when you raise awareness and you're the first one to take that leap of faith, you'll be the one to ignite the flame to start the fire."
He was proud that Heads Up Guys posted about his fundraising efforts on social media, and he'll continue to do his part to keep the conversation going as he goes to Vancouver Island University next year, and he hopes the UBC Sauder School of Business down the road.
"I wanted to do something for my grad project that I would never forget, and put myself out there," Ney said. "Make it apparent that there's no boundaries that can be put in my way to accomplish something that I want to."
