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The hallways of high schools and universities in Ottawa were awash in purple Tuesday morning, as students marked the first annual Power to the Purple month, a campaign that aims to raise awareness about youth mental health.

The initiative’s message was particularly felt at Ashbury College; student Daron Richardson committed suicide two years ago when she was 14 years old. Today is Daron’s birthday and she would have turned 16 this year.

Students at the elite private school donned her favourite colour — purple — in lieu of their regular green and grey uniform.

They gathered for a unique assembly where Ashbury alum Brooks Hunter shared his personal experience with depression and anxiety.

“When I was younger I thought, ‘can I make it through this?’” the filmmaker said to the 300 students gathered in the cafeteria.

After graduating from Ashbury in 2002, Hunter went on to work at the Dr. Phil Show and for Academy Award-winning producers at the Toronto International Film Festival. His current project, The Lens, explores his past depression and schizoaffective and bipolar disorders.

“Now, I’m standing here talking to you and I’m feeling good. There is absolutely every reason why people can fight through this and make that happen.”

Power to the Pruple is part of Do it for Daron, a program launched by Richardson’s parents, Stephanie Richardson and Ottawa Senators assistant coach Luke Richardson. The couple joined with The Royal Ottawa Hospital to create DIFD, which funds mental illness programs, support, and education.

Ottawans were encouraged to wear purple February 7, and participate in events happening throughout the month.

The colourful program has spread across the city; more than 20 high schools and universities in the region have joined in. At Bell High School, teacher Patricia Keeble screened a mental health awareness video for her class. Canterbury High School students sold DIFD merchandise, including a t-shirt with a heart design created by a Canterbury student. At Algonquin College, a student group hosted booths, giving out pamphlets and selling purple cupcakes, t-shirts and bracelets.

The aim of the campaign is to get students talking about suicide and depression and to prevent another tragedy like Daron’s from happening again.

Opening up was the key to overcoming mental illness for Hunter.

“It could’ve been so bad that maybe I would have ended (my life),” he said in Ashbury’s cafeteria. As a teen, his family and friends created a support network that helped him get better.

He said that people have stereotypes and misconceptions about mental illness because the average person doesn’t actually know what it is.

The key, he said, is beating the silence.

“If you feel something is off, tell your parents, tell your friends,” he said. “It’s not about you being weird or a bad person.”

The presentation at Ashbury was a learning experience for the students, but for three of Daron’s close friends, it was a time to reflect and mourn.

Grade 10 students Emily Groper, Leah Mousseau and Megan McGinn were dressed in head-to-toe violet. They’ve been close to the campaign since it started.

At the launch of the Power to the Purple at The Royal last week, the girls were giggling and swapping stories from school. Tuesday, they sat in the Ashbury College cafeteria quiet and subdued.

“This is always a hard month for us,” Groper said, her wrists layered in purple and white rubber DIFD bracelets.

“But we’re doing a lot better than last year,” McGinn added.

They all agreed that working over the past year with the DIFD campaign helped them deal with the loss of their best friend.

“People ask you what DIFD stands for or what the bracelets mean,” Mousseau said. “Telling them about Daron and the campaign...it helps.”

The program has also changed the atmosphere at the school for the better.

Groper said that students are more open to talk about mental illness and how they’re feeling, and that the stigma is eroding.

Ashbury College headmaster, Tam Matthews, said that he’s noticed a large shift in students since last year.

“There’s no question that it’s more open,” he said. “We are making progress on the stigma.”

Ashbury College has stepped up their mental health services. Before Daron’s death, Ashbury College had a student counsellor on staff. Now, the counsellor’s office is known as a mental wellness centre and the school has a nurse, chaplain, counsellor, and a class advisor.

Matthews said that the DIFD campaign, along with the courage of families like the Richardsons, is the main driving force behind kids becoming more engaged about their mental health.

“It’s working because it’s a youth-to-youth movement.”

The Power to the Purple campaign continues this month with a silent auction and dance at Scotiabank Place on February 17th.