We often speak about impact in numbers—but in mental health, impact often begins with a single story.

My name is Hailey Hechtman, and I am the Executive Director of Unsinkable, a Canadian charity founded by Olympian and mental health advocate Silken Laumann. For the past six years, Unsinkable has worked at the intersection of digital innovation and lived experience, using storytelling to connect individuals to mental health resources, reduce stigma, and inspire help-seeking. Through story-based campaigns, workplace panels, community events, and strategic partnerships, we’ve reached hundreds of thousands of people across Canada.

But for me, the story is personal. I’ve spent my entire career working in the mental health and nonprofit space—while privately battling an eating disorder for over a decade. Like many helping professionals, I poured myself into supporting others, compartmentalizing my own struggles until I reached a breaking point. What shifted everything? Hearing one person’s story—a podcast where a woman shared experiences so similar to mine that I was moved to tears. That moment became a catalyst for healing, and eventually, the work I now lead.

In this presentation, I will share insights from both my personal journey and Unsinkable’s national programming to show how storytelling can act as a tool for transformation across three levels:

For the Individual:
Storytelling offers a vehicle for reflection, self-understanding, and empowerment. Through our Unsinkable Stories, Community Champions, and Unsinkable Youth programs, we’ve seen firsthand how individuals who share their stories report increased resilience, reduced self-stigma, and a greater sense of connection.

For the Audience:
Stories humanize mental health challenges, inspire empathy, and drive behavior change. Campaigns like Fragments: Stories That Heal—which featured billboards across Toronto, podcast and radio ads, and national social media storytelling—brought real, unfiltered voices into the public conversation. Our collaborations with Kids Help Phone, The 44 North, and BDC help extend the reach of these stories into spaces where stigma is still a barrier.

For Systems Change:
Personal narratives are increasingly being used as tools for policy feedback, clinical insight, and public education. At Unsinkable, we co-create spaces where people with lived experience are not just heard, but valued as knowledge-holders—whether on stage, online, or in boardrooms. Our storytelling frameworks are trauma-informed, participant-driven, and designed with care to ensure ethical amplification without exploitation.

This session will also highlight our emphasis on “process over publication”—ensuring we create intentional, respectful storytelling experiences that prioritize the storyteller’s wellbeing and build trust with our audiences. In a world oversaturated with content, we believe in crafting stories that matter—ones that don’t just fill a feed, but foster genuine connection and action.

As digital mental health continues to evolve, we must remember: data tells us what’s happening, but stories tell us why it matters. When lived experience is centred—not as a sidebar, but as a strategic pillar—we can shift not only systems, but culture.