A weeklong campaign at Red Deer College promoting mental wellness concluded on Saturday with a full day of Kings and Queens action on the hardwood.

Since 2015, the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference has thrown its support behind the Make Some Noise for Mental Health campaign, intended to break stigma and promote resources for those experiencing mental illness.

That was the backdrop for volleyball and basketball games at RDC on Jan. 27.

Adam Turlejski, a Kings volleyball middle, volunteered for a leadership role in the campaign.

“The longer I spend here, the more people I meet who suffer from mental illness. The stigma is pretty real and the longer you hang around, you become more aware of it,” Turlejski said.

Christine Stewart, executive director for the Canadian Mental Health Association in central Alberta said it’s a reminder that mental illness can affect anyone.

“It doesn’t mean you have to have a diagnosis. It means that maybe you’re in a funk, maybe you’re feeling blue for a few days,” Stewart said. “Don’t be afraid to talk to somebody because it’s normal, it’s common and that stigma prevents people from asking for help.”

Earlier last week, the school held a variety of fun activities to raise mental health awareness, including socials, crafts, and time spent with therapy dogs.

A Twitter hashtag, #MakeSomeTimeRDC opened up a conversation on self-care.

For Turlejski, he likes to retreat into nature.

“Being from Australia, it’s an absolute honour to go to the Canadian Rockies and go on a hike. It’s so grounding and it’s a really good way to balance yourself out.”