Sharing your personal story of mental illness or mental health challenges is a difficult and courageous feat. If you or someone close to you is thinking of sharing their story for the first time, congratulations! Stories of personal experience, hope and recovery are often the most impactful aspects of youth summit events and go a long way in changing the stigma that surrounds mental health.

Sharing your personal story is a process that begins long before the day you choose to speak, and in order to feel comfortable with that process we suggest you take a look through the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) Headstrong Sharing Your Story toolkit.

You can find guiding questions, exercises and helpful information to guide you through this process. Sharing your personal story is supposed to be a positive experience for you, and going through the preparation process can help make that possible.