By Spencer Sterritt

Carlton students hear emotional concert of hope

Nov 17, 2016 | 5:17 AM

Standing by the exit to the Carlton Comprehensive High School gym, musician Robb Nash and his band were overwhelmed by students sharing their stories or emotional anguish.

They’d just finished a concert and presentation about mental health, addictions and suicide. In it, Nash shared his story of being declared legally dead at the age of 17 following a drinking and driving accident, while two videos reflected on how his band members overcame addictions and mental health.

Their openness inspired struggling students to open up as well, with many crying as they spoke to the band.

“I used to think they’re tears of pain but they’re not,” Nash said. “There’s a kid crying in front of you because they’re realizing they’re having a breakthrough and the fact we get to be a small part of that is a beautiful thing. It’s OK to share your stories, it’s OK to cry. Tears are a beautiful thing.”

The group spent nearly an hour-and-a-half talking to the roughly 2,300 students at their show, which is longer than their actual presentation.

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“People are listening and going ‘Wow, this guy’s been through something tough, so have I. He’s talking about it, maybe so should I. He got help, maybe so should I.’ It’s amazing what happens when we find out we’re not alone,” he said.

Though he’s inspired by the stories youth tell, he admitted it takes a toll.

“When I get back into the tour bus I collapse because it’s emotional. There’s an emotional drain that happens with it that’s overwhelming, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” he said.

Before embarking on their educational tour, Nash had several songs on the Canadian Top 10 charts and toured with bands such as Finger Eleven and Buckcherry. Much of his presentation was focused on the why of the tour; why he walked away from a record contract to speak to youth.

He said it’s because he’d been given a chance to inspire kids in a way he’d never been when he was young.

It was only supposed to be a nine-month tour, but now it’s spanned several years with no end in sight.

He said the toughest part of the journey in the beginning was worrying if kids would actually listen to their message and not brush it off as just another presentation they’d been forced to watch.

Now he said when they make return trips to schools they see their message has stuck in student’s minds.

“We can’t help everybody, don’t get me wrong, but there are a lot of kids today who are going to be going home to get rid of their razor blades, their suicide notes, their bottles of pills,” he said. “It’s amazing how many kids have said this is exactly what (they) needed.”

The talk was especially important given the various issues students from the Prince Albert and area fights. Alcohol and drug use are major inhibitors to a healthy life, and northern Sask. is facing a suicide crisis.

Nash said he was aware of the current crisis and will fly to Wollaston Lake early next year to give his presentation and hopefully inspire students to seek the help they need.

“I decided from the beginning I’m not trying to change the world here,” he said. “I’m trying to create world changers.”

Nash and his band play in North Battleford today.

ssterritt@panow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit