An Emotional Story, a Powerful Voice

© COURTESY OF RABIAH DHALIWAL

An Emotional Story, a Powerful Voice

RAYE MOCIOIU

Every year, Canada’s Walk of Fame, a national not-for-profit organization that works to shine a light on extraordinary achievers and their journeys, reaches out to Canadians to nominate a deserving young person for the Community Hero Program. Presented by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and Scotiabank, this program recognizes an inspiring Canadian under 30 who positively impacts their communities and beyond. In 2021, the fourth annual year of the Community Hero Program, the winner was B.C. native Rabiah Dhaliwal, founder of the Voices for Hope foundation.

At just 22 years old, Rabiah Dhaliwal has already impacted countless lives for the better— and she’s only just getting started.

The activist, humanitarian, and pageant queen has long been an advocate for mental health resources and education, a mission that has taken her across Canada and her voice across the globe.

In Grade 11, Rabiah struggled deeply with her mental health. Her dark mental state, combined with a lack of mental health support, led Rabiah to attempt suicide. Her recovery, however, opened up a pathway that changed her life forever.

Now, as a survivor of suicide, Rabiah is committed to lending her voice to champion awareness and education about mental health inequities, suicide prevention, and disability justice, not just in her community but throughout the nation. From acting as a voice for her country in the House of Commons to sharing her story with people on the other side of the world, Rabiah is achieving things that her “14-year-old self never thought were possible.”

As a neurodivergent youth of colour struggling with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, Rabiah has faced more than her fair share of challenges and adversities. Through it all, she has championed positivity, always looking for a way to use her voice to raise awareness, call for education, and build connections with others who may also be suffering.

In 2019, Rabiah was selected to kick off and be the face of World Cup winner and professional soccer player Mesut Ozil’s #YourStoryOurVoice campaign, where she shared her story with millions across the globe.

“Being a part of the #YourStoryOurVoice campaign gave me the wonderful opportunity to shine a light on the importance of mental health and my own lived experiences at an international level,” says Rabiah. “I was grateful to simply be able to share my experiences, and my only hope was that the campaign reach even one person who may be struggling and make them feel a little less alone.”

Her humble expectations were greatly exceeded—after the campaign was launched, she was flooded with messages of support and encouragement as the campaign reached 80 million people across the globe.

“It was overwhelming in the best sense of the word! Learning the hundreds of stories of young people who said my voice and advocacy efforts gave them the courage to speak on their own experiences was truly an honour. It gave me the strength and motivation to continue my work and serves as a daily reminder of why I champion mental health awareness and education.”

Learning the power of sharing her story led Rabiah to create her foundation, Voices for Hope, focused on challenging mental health stigma through an intersectional lens, giving BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals a platform to share their experiences. Through the foundation, Rabiah is working to establish Canada’s firstever “sensory hub” program, giving students a safe space to decompress when they need it— something Rabiah wished she’d had when going through mental health difficulties in school.

“Right now, my team and I are engaging with diverse stakeholders to launch our first pilot program at a local school or youth centre,” Rabiah notes. “The sensory hub will be a therapeutic space with sensory technology, stim toys, special lighting, calming visuals, and sounds where students can go when they’re feeling overwhelmed.”