‘We shouldn’t be embarrassed’

As a new decade dawns, is running a series on Canterbury’s young leaders. Education reporter met five inspirational Kiwi teenagers to hear their hopes and fears.

Shardey Harris didn’t always feel comfortable talking about her anxiety and depression, but says the only way to break the stigma around mental health is to discuss it.

Now aged 17 and having just finished her final weeks at school, she is speaking about her mental health in a bid to inspire other students to also be more open about it.

‘‘Probably in the last year I’ve felt more confident because I know that leaving myself vulnerable and speaking about my experiences is going to help those younger than me.’’

Harris says the cause of anxiety for many people is the unrealistic expectations that stem from images they see on Facebook and Instagram.

‘‘There’s this ideal image of what people perceive. I know there are so many girls that try to measure up to this unrealistic standard.’’

However, she feels social media can also be a force for positive change.

As a head prefect at Hornby High School, she knew an important part of her role was to set an example to younger students. ‘‘I don’t think that in 2019 we should be embarrassed to talk about mental health.’’

Looking back, she says the root of her anxiety and depression were social pressures as she transitioned to high school. ‘‘It wasn’t necessarily a specific thing but . . . having all these expectations from my peers to be

Shardey Harris has just finished her final year at Hornby High School. Left, Colombo St after the 2011 earthquake. smart, pretty and stuff like that.’’

Openness around mental health has improved in New Zealand, but Christchurch presents its own challenges. This year a study of almost 2500 school students – from both before and after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes – showed primary pupils at schools across the city still show symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

Harris knows a lot of young people who struggled to cope after the quakes and suffered anxiety herself.

She has been able to deal with her depression because she received help from her mum and her school counsellor.

‘‘Just know that reaching out is OK and that there are people that are going to be there to support you.’’

As well as being able to discuss mental health more as she has got older, she has been able to connect better with her family heritage.

‘‘Growing up I didn’t really understand a lot about my Ma¯ ori side, it’s probably only in recent years that I’ve found a real strong connection to it.’’

Harris excels at art and music but has decided not to go to university yet as she wants time to figure out what she’s most passionate about. She would eventually like to either run her own business or make short films and documentaries.

‘‘I feel like being creative and expressing myself through art and music and media and stuff is what I want to do; it makes me feel really good about myself.’’