1 out of 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness at some point in their life. This foundation was created in honour of our brother, Abivarman Arulpirarangah, who silently suffered alone and unfortunately took his life on March 2nd, 2019. His smile was contagious, and it was his most memorable characteristic. It looked as if Abivarman had everything going for him (academics, family, and friends) but he still suffered in silence. ⁣ ⁣ Varman’s Smile Foundation aspires to not only raise awareness about mental health issues, but to also:⁣ ⁣ - Create an open and inclusive space for individuals to speak openly and without judgment.⁣ - Promote mental health across the lifespan in homes, schools, and workplaces, and prevent mental illness and suicide wherever possible.⁣ - Address Canadian mental health policy issues.⁣ - Host various workshops and events for all interests.⁣ ⁣ Because of the stigma attached to mental illness, it’s often hard for those struggling and their families and friends to talk about what they’re going through. It’s already exhausting to fight a war inside your head every single day, but you don’t need to suffer alone.⁣