A former NHL goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks was in Williams Lake today to talk with students, not about his playing days, but about his struggles with anxiety and depression.
Corey Hirsch, an advocate for mental health awareness, started his presentation talking about how keeping it silent affected his career, followed by the steps he took after he was diagnosed with severe anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Hirsch told the students just because he was a professional athlete it can happen to anyone and there is help out there.
“No one is immune to mental health. It can happen to anyone and I think we all suffer from some forms of different degrees and different levels,” he said.
“It doesn’t mean you’re going to have a serious mental health issue as I did but if you do you need to know that help is available.”
Hirsch was in 100 Mile House yesterday afternoon bringing is his message to hockey fans during the first period of the Wranglers hockey game. He will be back in the Cariboo March 12th to visit schools in Quesnel.
“If you are struggling the text 2-1-1 is a big one,” he said.
“There are lots of websites, there’s mind right, my website, there’s lots of access that if you’re struggling or having depression issues there’s somewhere to go, someone to talk to.”
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