'Why I Stay': N.S. teen shares reasons she chose to live to help others struggling with depression
A Nova Scotia teen is giving hope to people who are contemplating suicide in her first book, “Why I Stay.”
Gabby Scollard, 19, wrote the book after her own bout of depression.
“I got diagnosed with depression and I was really struggling with suicidal thoughts and so when those thoughts were taking over I would write down a reason why I should stay. So that’s where the name obviously came from,” says Gabby.
After she recovered, Gabby decided to share those reasons with others who might also be struggling.
She recently published them in a book, which provides readers with “365 reasons to stay alive when your mind is giving you every reason not to.”
“Each page has a reason that someone who might be struggling with suicidal thoughts would want to stay alive,” explains the teen author.
“So, whether that’s deep contemplative thoughts or simple things like a perfectly toasted bagel, it’s just little things that might make you smile and break the cycle of hopelessness that you’re experiencing.”
Gabby’s mother, Deanne Scollard, says it’s important for children and their parents to talk about depression.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people who have contacted us to tell us they have gone through similar things,” said Deanne.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, it is a mental illness, you are sick and you are struggling and you shouldn’t be ashamed of that,” said Gabby.
While it’s hard to see your child struggle, Deanne says she is proud of her daughter and happy to see her come out the other side.
“To see Gabby go from struggling, to not wanting to be here, to today, where she is happy again and helping others, is extremely overwhelming as a parent,” she said.
Gabby is also proud of the impact she’s made, saying she’s received messages from people who credit her book for helping to save them.
“It’s so crazy to see that there can be so much light at the end of the tunnel when I didn’t even think I would have a future,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton dead following prison attack
Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.
2 children among 5 people hospitalized after head-on crash on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa's west end
Two young children and three adults were seriously injured in a major collision on Highway 417 between Palladium Drive and Carp Road in Ottawa's west end Friday afternoon.
DND moving 1,000 employees out of Ottawa office building due to safety concerns
The Department of National Defence is moving approximately 1,000 employees out of an office building in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood, citing safety concerns for its employees.
Baby dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to woman who was in police custody
A newborn is dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to a woman in police custody.
Marian Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama, dies at 86
Marian Shields Robinson, the mother of Michelle Obama who moved with the first family to the White House when son-in-law Barack Obama was elected president, has died. She was 86.
Jennifer Lopez cancels summer tour: 'I am completely heartsick and devastated'
Jennifer Lopez has cancelled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
These are the recalls in Canada this week
Health Canada recalled various items this week, including more unauthorized products, counterfeit drugs and bassinets.