Hi, I’m Samantha.

My story begins in September 2019 when I left a typical Sunday dinner with my family, as I did nearly every week. While the evening had felt like any other, the drive home detoured when I made a last-minute turn into the Sheldon Chumir Emergency Centre in downtown Calgary and told a triage nurse, "I think I'm depressed."

Two hours later, I walked out of the hospital with my diagnosis: Major Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. For some, hearing this type of diagnosis could seem daunting. For me, it was a massive weight lifted from my chest. I finally had an explanation for why I had become this individual who existed in an ever-present fog and who genuinely thought I would never experience a feeling of true joy ever again. Nearly five years later, I'm grateful that I finally took that terrifying leap, and I'm even more grateful for the people in my life who have been by my side since that day.

Things aren't perfect, there have been ups and downs. But feeling safe and comfortable enough to talk to my loved ones about my circumstances has made it so much easier to navigate the more challenging times, which is why Drop the Mask is so important to me.

My hope with this event is to take what is typically a solemn or scary topic and create a fun atmosphere where talking about our mental health becomes approachable and encouraged. Being open about my own story has brought in an unexpected flood of messages, phone calls, and conversations, and I truly feel so privileged any time a friend or acquaintance trusts me enough to reach out and talk to me about their own struggles. Navigating your mental health is hard enough, let’s not make it harder by feeling like we need to go through it alone.