Len Reynen

Public Relations Volunteer, Canadian Mental Health Association
Public Relations – Class of 2017

It’s hard to not be inspired by Len Reynen’s story. A young man living with schizophrenia, he’s faced more barriers than most, but he’s confronted his challenges and is working hard to change perceptions of mental illness through his advocacy work.

After college, Len interned at the Canadian Mental Health Association. His PR training gave him the opportunity to work on a peer engagement advisory council to engage Canadian Mental Health Association clients in policies and programming. He proposed a new website for clients by clients, and still volunteers on this project to date, long after completing his internship. Since graduating, Len has done advocacy videos for the Schizophrenia Society of Canada about his illness and his life.

In 2018, Len was chosen as a national spokesperson for Bell’s Let’s Talk and his story was featured on national radio and television, social media, billboards, and in print, sharing his life experiences and key messages. Len admits that some of the positive reaction to the campaign overwhelms him at times. “I’m not in it for the self-recognition,” he says. The reaction to his public story is overwhelming. In fact, it is causing strangers to reach out to him on social media to discuss their own struggles and to seek assistance for help and resources.

At a young age, Len is already making a significant impact on a topic that isn’t always comfortable, but Len is comfortable with his chosen path. Len deals bravely and decisively with difficult matters and works tirelessly to effect change.