Olympian Clara Hughes spoke to students at Langevin School in northeast Calgary on Monday about mental illness.
Hughes won medals in both summer and winter sports but perhaps one of her biggest challenges was her own personal struggle with mental illness.
Hughes is the national spokesperson for Bell Let’s Talk and openly talks about her depression.
She says getting help turned her life around and now she speaks about her experience in the hopes of breaking down the stigma surrounding mental illness.
"To show them that you can be strong and you can be weak at the same time and to encourage them to share their stories their struggles and if they need help to ask for that help," said Hughes.
Bell's Let's Talk Day is February 12th.
