What does mental health really mean? Ashley sits down with Starr Cunningham, President & CEO of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, to talk about why mental health lives in the grey, how to identify your early warning signs (hello, green/yellow/red), and why language and community—especially kindness—change the game. Starr shares her lived experience, the Foundation's community-driven grant model, and two easy ways to get involved: the Holiday Black-Tie Gala (Nov 22) and the Messages of Kindness campaign.
Our Guest Today:
Starr Cunningham (she/her) — President & CEO, Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. Former broadcaster (23 years on TV). Mental health advocate with lived experience. Values: community, compassion, accountability.
Key Takeaways:
Mental health isn't black + white; your early warning signs are individual.
Build a circle of trust that can reflect what they notice—kindly.
Lead with language like "I've noticed…" to start safer conversations.
Community solutions work best when communities define the need.
You can support the work right now via Gala tickets and Messages of Kindness.
