Brent Seal was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2007, but that hasn’t stopped the local resident from pursuing his dreams.

Five years ago, Seal graduated with a degree in business from SFU and was valedictorian. Now he’s getting ready to take on a multiyear adventure called MINDvsMOUNTAIN. He will climb Aconcagua (this winter), Denali (until recently known as Mount McKinley, next spring), and Everest (in the spring of 2017). To his knowledge, he says, he will be the first person in history living with schizophrenia to accomplish these mountain climbs.

“I’m doing this to show people that mental illness is no longer a life sentence,” Seal tells the Straight. “With advancements in medication and treatment, and society’s openness to mental health, those of us who have struggled with our mental health are more able to pursue our dreams today than ever before.

“I hope this project serves to highlight that, mental illness or not, our dreams matter and we need to make them our top priorities,” says Seal, who founded Mavrixx, a social enterprise that helps students, entrepreneurs, and young professionals overcome challenges and live great lives. “People who have struggled with their mental health need to be seen as contributors and influencers, not problems.”

In 2008, while at SFU, Seal founded Students for Mental Wellness. Just a year earlier, he had attempted suicide and been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Following a strong recovery and his graduation, he’s completed several ultramarathons and cohosted the Balancing Our Minds Youth Summit at Rogers Arena.

His triple-peak project, which Seal launched on September 25, aims to reduce the stigma that accompanies mental illness and raise money for the FamilySmart Network of the Institute of Families for Child & Youth Mental Health. The network is an independent nonprofit organization that works to improve child and youth mental health in Canada by involving families in consultation, education, and partnerships.