THE FACE BEHIND ROGUE — a sponsor of the Montreal Walks for Mental Health

About eight years ago I met Tristan Ledent, an energetic go-getter with a boundless amount of courage. We met through mutual friends, and his seemingly progressive approach to life reeled me in—fuelling my ambitions to take chances and leap forward into the unknown. I had learned soon after that Tristan suffered from bipolar disorder, an illness I knew almost nothing about. We lost touch shortly thereafter, and only now that we’ve reconnected have I learned that his mental health plummeted because of insufficient treatment.

Sitting across from him now, I see a different Tristan. He’s older, wiser, and the slight trembling of his hands as he folds them in his lap indicates that he’s been through more than most of us. “They’ll always shake now; medication will do that to you,” he chuckled. I’ve gladly taken it upon myself to interview him about his experiences, and because we are friends, Tristan was more than happy to share. He began by describing the darkest moments of his battle with mental health—moments that could never be truly expressed in an article. They include drug abuse, overdose, rehabilitation, multiple suicide attempts and rounds of shock therapy. As he revisits the demons of his past, there’s a smile on his lips. “I’ve been through it all, and now I just want to give back.”

Tristan is only one example of the millions of people suffering from mental illness, from bipolar disorder to anxiety. Unfortunately, not everyone can turn it around like he did or even receive adequate treatment for that matter. This is because Canada only allocates 7% of its health care budget to mental illness, compared with the average 12% in other countries. Tristan is now working hard behind the wheel of Rogue to ensure that people can receive the treatment they need without fear of being judged by their experiences. By sponsoring important foundations like the MONTREAL WALKS for Mental Health, a better future is made possible—one that is free of stigma and discrimination.

Walk with Tristan, and others like him, towards a future that is mindful and balanced in both our head and hearts.

This story was provided by Rogue for commercial purposes.