By any superficial measure of success, Danny was at the top of his game. He had just started a kinesiology program and was simultaneously working as a personal trainer and competing in Olympic weightlifting.
“I was trying to chase after every externally imposed milestone and goal that I was supposed to achieve to be considered ‘successful’ by society’s standards,” Danny reflects.
Two years into college, life took an unexpected turn. The mounting pressures of having to excel academically, juggle a sports career and a part time job, all combined with family challenges, gradually took a toll on Danny’s mental health.
“It all became too much for me to handle. I ended up quitting weightlifting and decided to take a break from college. I was beyond burnt out,” shares Danny.
In the ensuing three years, Danny took on a variety of part-time jobs but struggled to find meaningful work. He came across Foundry by sheer chance, when his brother sent him an online advertisement for Foundry’s Work & Education program.
“It was hard enough trying to navigate depression, but what made it worse was constantly being compared to my more successful peers and family members. There was a tremendous amount of pressure to live up to an arbitrary timeline of success,” says Danny.
According to Danny, mental health is still stigmatized in many Asian households – it’s considered a sign of weakness if you need help, especially as a male.
“I kept telling myself that I did not need anyone’s help, but it just got to a point where I felt like I had nothing left to lose so I took that first step of connecting with a counsellor at Foundry. That first step really marked the beginning of a brand-new chapter in my life,” Danny shares.
Foundry offers free and confidential supports for young people ages 12 to 24, including mental health care, substance use services, physical & sexual healthcare, youth, and family peer supports, and social services – both virtually and in-person in 17 communities across BC.
What initially began as counselling appointments to support Danny with job searching, slowly paved way for Danny to explore other forms of healing.
“What’s fantastic about Foundry is that they meet you exactly where you’re at. My Work & Education program counsellor didn’t force me to attend other workshops or pressurize me to talk about things I wasn’t ready to talk about. She allowed me to make that decision for myself. That’s when I started attending cognitive behavioural therapy workshops to help me better deal with stress,” shares Danny.
“It was the first time in my life where I felt like I had somebody in my corner who was willing to support me and guide me in a completely non-judgmental way,” he continues.
According to Danny, his time at Foundry taught him to reconnect with his voice.
“When we are children, we look to the adults around us to tell us who we are. We look to them to give us validation and encouragement. And if you’re around adults who give you the opposite, you internalize that and think you’re worthless,” Danny says. “But the inner work that I’ve done at Foundry helped me turn that equation around – I don’t need someone else to tell me who I am.”
Danny now works in the world of electronic gaming – he’s pleased to share that he’s made huge strides in understanding his passions and what he wants to achieve in his life. Danny has also rekindled his love for fitness and has found a new hobby to explore – freestyle dancing. He wants other young people to know that the strongest thing you can do is to reach out and ask for help.
“I think the biggest breakthrough that has come out of my experience at Foundry is that I don’t need to be afraid. I don’t need to fear or evade hard emotions, because I’ve been given the tools and resources I need to better sail through life’s storms,” Danny shares.
If you or someone you know is looking for support, you can access services at a Foundry centre or via Foundry Virtual BC. Learn more about these services or how you can support Foundry here.