Being in hospital over the Christmas season can be a lonely experience, especially for those dealing with mental health concerns.

Christa Steeves has been an outspoken advocate for changing the system in part due to personal experience.

She recalls being hospitalized on New Years Day, and says that due to stigma and other issues, people in mental health care are often forgotten.

She says family and friends of people suffering with mental health issues are often confused or at their wit’s end trying to figure out what to do or how to act, which often results in just not being around.

Steeves says it’s easier for someone to understand how to react to a physical illness rather than when your brain is fighting against you.

Steeves is one of the founders of Shine Your Light for Mental Health which collects comforting items for those in care and donations towards supporting the Channal Warm line.