Quite the recognition for AM800’s Arms Bumanlag.

He’s been named a 2017 ‘Champion of Mental Health’ by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health.

Bumanlag gets the national award in the ‘media category’ for his work on the ‘Sole Focus Project’ at the local chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Bumanlag has been battling anxiety for years and openly shares his struggles with the community. “I’m just happy that I’m able to use my platform, because it really is crucial that the next generation of Windsorites to realize that there are a lot of mental health issues on the table with anybody, your co-workers, your friends, family, whoever it is. You have to continue to push forward and continue to talk to people about what’s really affecting them.”

“There is so much more discussions to be had,” says Bumanlag. “There’s so many people that are afraid to say anything or feel so despondent of where they are with their mental health and I think a lot of it has to do with the stigma surrounding it through the years. Nowhere near as prevalent as it is here in 2017, but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

To date, the ‘Sole Focus Project’ has raised more than $100,000 to support mental wellness in Windsor-Essex.

Bumanlag will receive his award May 3rd in Ottawa.

http://www.iheartradio.ca/am800/news/arms-bumanlag-named-a-champion-of-mental-health-1.2515897