Please welcome first-time contributor Joshua R Beharry, a 26-year-old man from Vancouver who suffers from depression. Since early 2011, he has made volunteering and advocating for mental health a primary focus of his life. Joshua has experience with anti-stigma, mental health and wellness promotion at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He facilitates a peer-support group, as well as speaks publicly and does interviews and articles in which he shares his story with others to help them learn about depression and mental illness from someone who has lived it.

About this photo: “This was taken in October, during a vacation to Melbourne, Australia. During my trip I had very little issues with my thoughts and emotions. The photo reminds me how far I’ve come in my recovery. I do a lot of advocacy for mental health but it’s nice to know that when I want to I can forget all those experiences and enjoy the moment I’m in.“

Find more from Joshua at MHPOV.

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