Toronto student to talk mental health with Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

This Saturday, ShayanYazdanpanahwillgeta once-in-a-lifetime opportunitytosailacross the harbour at Victoria, B.C.with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridgeto discuss youth mental health.

Yazdanpanah, 20, an engineering student at Ryerson University,is one of 19 students being sent to represent Jack.org, a national network of youth leaders hoping to change the way people think about mental health. Members of the organization, founded by the parents of a first-year Queen's student who died by suicide, wereselected to meet Their Royal Highnesses.

William and Kateare well into a visit tothe country's west coast. Mental health is an important issue for the pair.The Duke and Duchess, along withPrince Harry, are spearheading a campaign called Heads Together,which works tocombatthe stigma aroundmental health.

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The visit isan exciting prospect forYazdanpanah, who willhelpto both sail their tall shiparound the harbour and to raise awareness of a subject close to his heart.

"Often times mental health is one of those conversations that's unfortunately very overlooked," he said, but he hopes the international spotlight on couples likeWilliam and Kate will help to spur moreconversation.

Yazdanpanahgot involved with Jack.org following his own journey to improve his mental well-being.

Like many young people, he found the transition between high school and university overwhelming, knowingsomething was wrong when he started to isolate himself from his family and friends.

Although never clinically diagnosed, he struggled. He became overly anxious and decided to seekhelp.

After opening up to a friend, he said everything changed.

"It was one of the most important things I did just because until that point I was overlooking literally half of what my health consisted of," he said.

He reached out to Jack.org last year, soon becoming one of their Jack Talks speakers andteaching other youth they're not alone.

His key message to others: youdon't have to suffer in silence.

"Once I started speaking up I realized how much better life was."