



A Glovertown artist says he was compelled to speak up about his own mental illness after hearing the story of Hailey Baker. We hear what he had to say. 9:21 Part Two of our conversation with artist Aaron Powell about mental illness and what he thinks needs to change to make sure no one else falls through the cracks. 9:33 ​Artist Aaron Powell is internationally known for his mellow and self-reflective music. Now, for the first time, the singer-songwriter known as Fog Lake is speaking out about his battle with mental illness.

Powell he says he was prompted to open up after hearing the story of Hailey Baker. Baker told CBC News earlier this year that she struggled with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and that an attempted suicide at Signal Hill in April was a cry for help.

Baker also said something needed to change with the mental health system in Newfoundland and Labrador.

After hospitalisation and numerous subsequent suicide attempts, the 20-year-old lost her battle with mental illness earlier this month.

'It could have been me'

Powell said he was heartbroken when he first read her story.

"I could relate to her cries for help and feelings of exile, and struggles with the mental healthcare system. It could have been me," he said.

Powell suffers from the same disorder, and said he first started noticing the signs at age 16 or 17. As he moved through adulthood, things escalated.

"By the end of college, I was very suicidal and ended up being hospitalised twice for suicide attempts," he said.

While was Powell diagnosed with a mild form of depression, he said he knew there was something more serious at play.

Stereotypes about men with mental illness

Powell said he doesn't feel like the medical system took him seriously when he asked for help. He blames that on preconceived stereotypes associated with men and mental illness.

"I told them I was a cutter. I told them I had abandonment issues. I told them I was suicidal. I would go from really high states of happiness to extreme lows of depression," he said.

Being a musician, Powell said speaking publicly could result in him being pigeonholed as a tragic artist — but said it's important for him to put a face to the disease.

"I'm not here to romanticize about it, I'm not here to glorify it. I'm here to talk about it and say that it's a real thing.

"And it needs to be paid closer attention to so that people like Hailey Baker aren't left for dead, and aren't exiled and they live. They live to tell the tale."