Michael Landsberg in Saskatoon for mental health awareness

He calls himself a champion for mental health.

“I believe that just raising awareness, just talking about it, just hearing someone talk, can change a life and save a life,” said Michael Landsberg of TSN and sicknotweak.com.

Landsberg is in Saskatoon this weekend for “Step Up for Mental Health,” a walk and run that will do just that.

One of the important messages Landsberg hopes to bring involves learning about mental health challenges and what you can do to help someone who is struggling.

He urged everyone to do everything possible to help someone who’s struggling by educating ourselves.

“If you care about someone with a mental health challenge, then you owe it to them to learn about their challenge,” Landsberg said. “Learn about it. And ask about it. And ask that person you care about. But start the conversation with this: ‘I thought I understood. I don’t understand. Help me help you. Tell me what I can do,’ ” Landsberg said.

Landsberg said what motivated him to battle the stigma attached to a mental health challenge is the fact that there is a stigma. He first spoke about his own battles during a taping of TSN’s Off the Record.

“I’d never spoken about my challenges before. And I thought it would mean nothing to anyone,” Landsberg said. “But then I started hearing from people that it made a huge difference in their life, to hear a guy, a man, talking about his struggles with depression, without seeming embarrassed or ashamed and without seeming weak.”

He said he realized he had a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, and to do what he loves doing: Talk.

“Step Up for Mental Health” is set to go Saturday morning in Saskatoon. It’s to start at the Bessborough Gardens at 10 a.m.

Cameco will be matching every dollar raised for the fundraiser.