CTV Calgary and the United Way of Calgary and Area have come together to raise awareness about mental health in a three-year initiative called Real YOUth.
The goal of the multi-year project is to uncover the hidden truths behind stress and anxiety among youth.
According to statistics from the United Way, 60% of youth visits to the doctor are for stress and anxiety.
Many students are going through final exams right now and are experiencing those exact feeling due to exam stress.
Students can feel a little stress and anxiety during this time, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but for some it can be incapacitating.
Jordan Alloro is among thousands of grade twelve students in Alberta getting ready for provincial exams and he is feeling the pressure.
"You know that feeling of emptiness in your stomach and you feel really hungry, it's sort of like that for me, or when it's really bad and I have a panic attack it feels like a little heart attack," said Jordan.
A recent survey of Calgary high school students shows anxiety is a common issue facing many students.
In numerous cases, the anxiety is so intense that the students have diagnosed anxiety disorders.
"It could come out in social anxiety situations where they have difficulty coming to school, that would be the more severe end'" said Counsellor, Jody Primeau.
While it may be common, it is not always easy to talk about anything related to mental health.
"If your body is sick then you should get your body fixed. So your mind is part of you body so you need to get that fixed, it's not something that we should just hide from the world and think it's going to get better, cause if your leg is broken and you hide, it's not going to get fixed so same concept in my mind," said Jordan.
Robyn Spilsbury has suffered from anxiety for several years and says asking for help felt really good.
"I could just unload everything I had been feeling and it was like, it's not like talking to a friend where they'll agree with you, this person, it was like unloading on them and then they were like, alright that's your problem, now let's fix it," said Robyn.
Robyn has strategies for dealing with her exam anxiety.
She is able to write her exams in a separate room and is allowed to take a little longer so she can use some of her coping strategies, such as taking breaks and deep breathing exercises.
"I definitely feel more comfortable talking about it now because I feel that I have a system now where it's like, I can just, deep breaths, think about it, well preparation and you talk yourself through the exam," said Robyn.
In Calgary, more than 10,000 youth were treated for anxiety and more than 8,000 for depression between 2007 and 2008.
Kids who are having difficulty can always start by consulting with a counsellor at school.
They can also call 211 to get connected with community resources or call connecteen at 403-264-teen (8336).
The connecteen call line is answered 24 hours a day (peer support is provided from 5pm -10pm) and an online chat and email service can be accessed through their website.
Join our conversation on youth stress and anxiety on United Way's Calgary Social Voice Blog.
