Michelle Gavin is a former mental health professional who currently serves her local community as a registered nurse. With 25 years of experience, she has worked in a range of medical contexts, including telemetry, ICU, hospice, ER, trauma and surgical departments, in addition to executing other duties in the hospital setting.

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Gavin is familiar with the intersection of mental health and the traditional medical field, often applying a mental health lens to her professional role. She notes the impact of occupational stress and burnout among medical personnel, making a point to cultivate a safe space within the healthcare setting for staff and patients alike. She does this through selfless gestures, such as tidying up a patient’s space and allowing them to express themselves in conversations about things beyond the reason for their visit.

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Her interest in serving young people stems from her role as a community role model, creating environments where youth can safely learn and grow. As a child, Gavin dreamed of a physically demanding career in construction, hoping to achieve a muscular physique. That early dream now informs her love for the gym and exercising.

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In terms of her own mental health, Gavin strives to maintain peace by cherishing things that bring her joy. She says she would tell her younger self to “stay mentally strong even in the face of adversity.”

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For the “How to Catch a Thought” session at Youth Empowerment Day, Gavin’s goal is to give youth the opportunity to use their words to articulate thoughts and feelings about mental health. She also stresses the importance of finding someone to confide in, saying that communicating feelings with another person can help shift one’s perception of a situation.

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Gavin believes that a person’s relationship with mental health doesn’t have to be adversarial. Instead, she urges people to try to understand and learn from it. She asserts that progress is always possible and says people should “focus their energy on their goals instead of their feelings. You are not a slave to your feelings. You cannot be victorious today with a defeated mind from yesterday.”