LOCAL HERO: Penticton teen battles mental health issues, while helping others

PENTICTON – Grade 12 student Karsten Burton has made it his goal to help those with mental health problems.

That’s why Burton has worked hard for the last year and a half to open a peer-listening room at his high school in Penticton.

It’s a cause that hits very close to home for Burton. He’s only 17-years-old but for about a decade, the Princess Margaret Secondary School student has lived with mental health challenges, dealing with both anxiety and depression.

“I was suicidal, I didn’t see where my life was going to head, I didn’t see any hope,” says Burton.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I was suicidal, I didn't see where my life was going to head, I didn't see any hope," says Burton.

Then one day two years ago, the vice principal at his school reached out to help him.

“She came up to me and talked to me about a trip to Africa and that was my turning point,” says Burton.

In fact, Burton was so inspired by the journey to build a library at an orphanage in Tanzania that he went back last summer.

“He was struggling finding a place and often times when I take students to Africa, that helps them find their place,” says Princess Margaret vice principal, Sandra Richardson.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He was struggling finding a place and often times when I take students to Africa, that helps them find their place," says Princess Margaret vice principal, Sandra Richardson.

“So, the second year when he came, he was this kid who wanted to teach at the orphanage, he taught them about simple physics concepts and simple math concepts.”

Now, the busy teenager spends a lot of his time taking on various extra-curricular activities, including coaching grade three and four students in lacrosse.

“This year, he helped put together a conference for grade nine students. He shared a story of being bullied and struggling with depression and anxiety and it was remarkable,” says Richardson.

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He’s left those around him, especially his family, feeling immense pride.

“We couldn’t be more proud of him.”

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Burton is a soon-to-be University of Victoria physics student.

“I want to be a forensic engineer one day,” says Burton.

While he is in the homestretch of his high school career and is gearing up to begin a new chapter in his life, he guarantees he’ll continue championing his cause, helping others cope with mental health issues.

“It’s something I’m going to be working on for life,” says Burton.

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