IQALUIT
One of the most decorated athletes in Canada's history was frank when it came time to discussing her biggest failure.

Six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes, surrounded by Iqaluit youth, listened to an Inuit drum dance performance by Mathew Nuqingaq on May 1. - Myles Dolphin/NNSL photo

Six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes, who was in Iqaluit on May 1 and 2, said the hardest thing she ever had to do was deal with depression on her own.

"Even someone as strong as me, I couldn't do it alone – I failed," she told Nunavut News/North on May 1.

"What you might feel as a weakness is actually strength when you can reach out to others. It took me two years to realize that. I encourage young people to find someone, or an outlet, they can connect to, and not quit until they find that."

Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk is a 110-day cross-country bike journey to raise awareness for mental health issues and to end the stigma attached to it.

Upon her arrival at the Iqaluit airport, she was greeted by colourful signs and treated to a drum dance and throat-singing performance.

Her busy stay in the capital also included a visit to the Friendship Centre, meeting elders, attending a community concert and interacting with students of all ages.

When speaking about Nunavut's remote communities, in which the suicide rate is several times higher than in southern Canada, she said it's important to remember you're not alone.

"What I try to do is share a bit of my story and my own history with mental illness," she said, adding she has been dealing with depression for a number of years.

"I want to let young people know they're not alone. They may feel isolated but many young Canadians are going through this. Sometimes it can seem like you're isolated but when people come together they can create a strength and a bond far greater than any city can create."

Hughes had words of praise for Nunavut, the Inuit and the resilience they've shown throughout their history.

She said she's been inspired by the Inuit's connection to their land and the wisdom that is passed down from generation to generation.

"These young kids are born from an ancestry that is so powerful and resilient," she said.

"I'm in awe of the people here and their culture, which I revere. I try to remind them they've taught me something so powerful."

Hughes' ride, which began on March 14 in Toronto, Ont., will cover 12,000 kilometres through every province and territory before ending in Ottawa on Canada Day, July 1.

She said she would like to see greater access to support for mental health issues and is a big proponent of traditional healing.

"The support needs to be different depending on where you are," she said.

"I've experienced many different forms of traditional healing. Being out on the land with an elder, listening to the sounds of nature, and being in the awesome silence is incredibly healing."

Hughes has been the national spokesperson for the Bell Let's Talk campaign since its inception four years ago.