R.D. Parker Collegiate’s Glenn Shatford was one of ten Grade 12 students from around the province recognized for contributions to healthy living in their communities with a 2015 Premier’s Health Living Award for Youth Dec. 17.
The award includes a medal, a congratulatory letter from Premier Greg Selinger and a $500 bursary towards post-secondary tuition.
The students received their awards in a ceremony at the legislative building in Winnipeg last Thursday.
“It is truly uplifting to see so many young Manitobans, the future leaders of our province, involved in promoting healthy living in their schools and communities,” said Selinger in a press release. “Their achievements are impressive and I hope they will inspire Manitobans of all ages to adopt more active, healthy lifestyles.”
Shatford, who received the award for his efforts towards promoting mental health in Thompson and Northern Manitoba, said he was not expecting to be one of the award’s recipients and that when he received the email informing him, he thought it would just be a thank-you for his application.
“When I saw it, I thought they were just trying to be courteous,” he said. When he realized he won, “I was pretty ecstatic.”
Awards are presented to students who are positive role models and promote healthy lifestyles in the areas of active living, healthy eating, healthy sexuality, mental health promotion, safety and injury prevention, substance use and addictions, and tobacco use reduction. There were 40 applicants this year and the recipients include two others from Northern Manitoba: Andrena Bayer of Mel Johnson School in Wabowden and Jaiden (Buddy) Moise of Frontier Collegiate Institute in Cranberry Portage.
“It is important to honour and acknowledge these youth, who are establishing a path to healthy living for all Manitobans to follow,” said Healthy Living and Seniors Minister Deanne Crothers. “I would like to thank the recipients for their dedication and also their teachers and families for supporting them in their efforts.”
Shatford’s passion for mental health comes from his own experience of suffering in silence and he wants to make sure that other people don’t feel as isolated as he did. That work, he says, is also good for him.
“Trying to help people definitely makes it easier,” Shatford said, who speaks about mental health at various events and is an active member of both the Hope North Suicide Prevention Committee and the S.O.S. (Students Offering Support) group at RDPC. He plans to use the bursary money towards his education. He is planning to study for a bachelor of science degree, hopefully at the University of Manitoba, continue to medical school and then specialize in psychiatry.
“I’ve dealt with a lot of positive psychiatrists and a lot of negative psychiatrists,” Shatford says, and wants to help prevent others from going through some of those negative experiences.
Shatford said it would have been difficult to imagine when he was at his lowest points that any good could come from having mental health problems.
“I never thought my suffering would lead to this place,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d end up in the place I am now. “
For those who suffer from mental health issues themselves, Shatford offers this advice.
“There’s always help no matter how isolated or alone you feel,” he says. “There’s always someone who cares and who wants the best for you.”
