On Friday, January 6, the UBC Thunderbirds held a pre-game ceremony in honour of goaltender Laura Taylor while raising awareness about mental illness.
Last April, Taylor passed away a few days shy of her 34th birthday, after struggling with bipolar disorder and depression. At the ceremony, Taylor’s jersey number—29—was retired in front of family, friends, and a supportive crowd.
Taylor had been a new addition to the squad, studying at UBC’s faculty of medicine after transferring from the University of Saskatchewan in 2015. The 33-year-old student had wanted to be a role model and mentor for her fellow teammates. She also had a contagious smile and was vocal about mental health issues.
The events had a deep impact on her family and friends, as well as her teammates. But in its wake, it also sparked a campus-wide conversation about mental health, a conversation that needs to happen. A large part of the discussion has centred around removing the stigma surrounding mental health and wellness conversations.
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Healthy Minds | Healthy Campuses is managed and coordinated on behalf of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information by CMHA BC
Core funding for the initiative is provided by BC Mental Health and Substance
Use Services with additional support from the BC Ministry of Health
