MIDPOINT 360° - Mental Health & Child's Month

May is both Mental Health Awareness Month and Child Month, a powerful reminder of the importance of emotional well-being, especially in our children. These observances encourage us to pay attention to the often-overlooked struggles that many people, young and old, silently face every day. For me, they also serve as a moment of reflection on where I’ve been, who I’ve become, and why I want to pursue a career as a clinical/counselling psychologist.

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to help people. I felt deeply connected to others’ pain and often found myself wanting to comfort and support those around me. But for a long time, I didn’t have the words or the understanding to name this calling. Like many young people, I believed that to help others, I had to become a medical doctor. That was the only “healing” profession I knew of at the time, so I was convinced that medicine was the path for me.

What I didn’t realize then was that I had never been exposed to the world of psychology. I didn’t know that there were people whose role was to listen, to guide, to support emotional healing to help others make sense of their thoughts and feelings. Once I began learning about mental health and the vital work that psychologists do, everything began to click into place. I saw the pain that so many carry in silence: the anxiety that keeps them up at night, the depression that steals their joy, the trauma they’ve never spoken about, and the fear of being misunderstood. I realized that what many people truly need is someone to talk to, someone to make them feel seen and heard.

That’s when I found my true passion. I want to be that person for others, not with a prescription pad, but with presence, empathy, and genuine care. I want to work with children, teens, and adults who are struggling with life’s weight and don’t know where to turn. I want to help them find hope, healing, and peace.

In becoming a counselling psychologist, I’m also becoming the person I needed most when I was younger. Like many, I had moments of doubt, confusion, and emotional pain, times when I wished someone would notice, ask questions, or simply sit with me in the silence. I now understand how powerful that kind of support can be. It can save lives. It can change them.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet it’s often pushed to the background. But no one should have to suffer in silence. Whether it’s a child learning to name their feelings or an adult battling inner turmoil, everyone deserves someone to walk beside them through their healing journey.

I do not wear a lab coat or hold a stethoscope, but I want to offer something just as vital: compassion, understanding, and a listening ear. And sometimes, that’s exactly what a person needs most.

In 4-5 years, I’ll be a licensed psychologist, but more importantly in 4 years, I’ll be licensed to listen to me.