Two Guelph sisters are helping others manage and learn more about mental health through multiple creative outlets.
Through their blog Twin Life, which they started in college, the Bolliger sisters have shared their journey through hobbies and activities as a way to maintain their mental health.
Breanna Bolliger said it also gives them the opportunity to connect with other students going through similar experiences.
“A lot of the people we talk to are students our age,” he said.
When students find that they are connecting, talking and asking questions to the sisters, who are similar ages and have been through similar experiences, Breanna said it is like a coming full circle moment for them.
She said the blog is much more than just sharing her mental health experiences. She felt that the pandemic would be the perfect time to realize that taking the time to engage in mental health efforts can ease the mind and put you in a place that can be beneficial to her physical and mental health.
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Since launching the blog, Breanna and Ashley Bolliger have also published a children’s book. Ashley said Carrie can fly too It is based on several personal experiences.
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“The reader goes on this journey of learning about a bird named Carrie, who not only faces difficulties in trying to accept herself, but also faces the challenge of hearing all these negative comments from all the other birds,” said Ashley Bolliger.
He said that since their blog is aimed more at young adults in college, they wanted to target a younger audience who could relate to the book’s themes and ideas of self-confidence, kindness and acceptance.
Breanna added that they not only wanted the book to have cute, colorful cartoon images, but also to emphasize the importance of kindness toward others and ourselves.
In addition to the blog and children’s book, Ashley and Breanna run a free mentoring program for young adults.
Ashley said one of the things they have become more aware of is how mental health affects everyone.
“When you give them that comfort and have that conversation and make it an open experience, that’s when they tend to open up and really want to create that dialogue and create that conversation,” she said.
They speak to a wide variety of college students of different ages and demographics, some of whom have even started their own mental health journey simply by hearing the sisters’ stories.
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Although they graduated, they continue to run the blog and still talk to students currently in post-secondary school.
The twins plan to release a second children’s book.
“I feel like doing another book with that audience in mind would be great for us because we really enjoyed this journey,” Ashley said.
You can go to his book’s website. Carrie can also fly where she can purchase a copy as well as free downloadable teacher resources and activity sheets.
