Mr. Ryan Sharpe:

There absolutely was such a stigma.

One cannot even leave the classroom to go to the bathroom and one needs to say to the teacher that one wants to see the guidance counsellor. For 14 and 15 year old lads, it is not a great time. If there was a monthly check up on students, it would not be as stigmatising as when two or three people are going to a guidance counsellor everyone else is having a laugh. It would be better if everyone went in for a check up. One would not have to talk about anything but one could talk if one wanted to.

As far as the stigma goes, talking about it is important. That has progressed greatly in the last few years. Even on TikTok people are now talking about mental health. It is everywhere. We are never really going to get rid of the stigma but having supports in place to deal with it and make it normal is important.