A young man who sunk into the depths of depression is telling his story with hopes of inspiring others.

Dexter Nyuurnibe says on the exterior, he appeared to have it all.

“I'd always been known as that guy who was you know, always sociable,” said Nyuurnibe. “That was my way, I guess, of trying to sometimes forget about what I was going through.”

Now 24 and a journalism student at the Nova Scotia Community Collegein Dartmouth, Nyuurnibe has lived all over the world.

He says things started getting tough when he started university.

“I tried learning the new social norms. I tried making friends, but also had difficulties financially with trying to acquire books and whatnot,” said Nyuurnibe.

Nyuurnibe was 17 at the time. He says he didn't know how to ask for help.

“It became a spiral,” said Nyuurnibe. “Very much anxiety-driven, and eventually into depression.”

Life became so difficult that he tried to end his.

“In your mind, you're alone,” said Nyuurnibe. “The worst times were always when I would be by myself.”

Nyuurnibe says things got better when he started talking about what he was going through. It's why he hasn't stopped talking since, and why he's such a passionate supporter of Bell Let's Talk.

“It is my honest belief that one life lost is one life too many,” said Nyuurnibe.

Nyuurnibe now dedicates a great deal of time sharing his story. He appeared in the documentary Clara's Big Ride, on the television show The Social, and gave a Ted Talk in Cape Breton.

“When I stood outside of St.FX with a sign “It's ok not to be ok,” actual police officers would come up afterwards and be like, ‘Thank you for doing this. I'm going through stuff, as well,’” said Nyuurnibe.

Nyuurnibe says not to give up.

“If you're going through something right now, don't go. Please.”

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell.