Meet The Mates - Kanishk Sharma
Welcome back to our “Meet Our Mates” series, where we introduce you to the incredible individuals behind Hey Mate’s clinical team. This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Kanishk Sharma an all-round creative soul. He brings a big heart, big imagination, and an impressive background that blends expressive arts, mental health advocacy and he brings warmth and spark to every space he’s in. We’re thrilled to have him supporting our creatives at Hey Mate. Get to know Kanishk below!
What is your position at Hey Mate / Mate Studio?
Counsellor! Yay
Could you share some highlights from your creative industry experience before joining Hey Mate?
I have expressed myself through my imagination, fashion, art, dance, music, and sports from a young age. I have participated in multiple competitions and events in expressive arts, different types of choreographed dance throughout my schooling years, and singing choirs when I was younger. Professionally, I’ve channelled this creativity into my work and volunteering with organisations such as the World Federation for Mental Health, Youth for Mental Health, GirlUp, and S.A.L.T., working closely with artists and performers and gaining insight into both the creative and organisational sides of events. With WFMH, I helped organise World Mental Health Day, managing guests, emceeing, and leading a content team. At YMH, I led a Pride Campaign, coordinated six learning and development programs, and supported fundraising efforts. With GirlUp, I developed event themes and scripts while managing venue and guest coordination. Finally, at S.A.L.T., I worked as an online program coordinator, facilitating interactive games and team engagement activities.
Which aspect of your work at Hey Mate ignites your passion, and what makes it so meaningful to you?
I think Hey Mate has its own stand-alone commitment to mental health support that truly reflects the realities of creative work, its pressures, its unpredictability, and the meaning any form of art carries. This work brings mental health care into the heart of creative environments, meets people where they are, and is super-flexible in providing support. This approach takes art and its people seriously, and that's what matters.
If you could champion one change in the creative industry, what would it be and how would it make a difference?
One change I would forever wish to bring is to stop romanticising the sadness. Now now, while I personally believe that the best art pieces might have come from pain and sorrow, sometimes this cost is too much. And as art and life can play the game of imitating each other, one of them doesn't have to lose. I like to believe we can bring this change by expressing ourselves in more creative or even simpler ways, and believing the art we all produce in little moments, every day.
Everyone has a story; what’s a quirky or unexpected chapter / fact from yours?
Haha, well, I don't know how much I can share here, BUT, I think I am the funny one haha. My neurodivergence and trauma allows me to joke about most things! Fashion in my adulthood has become one of the best ways I express myself. I do not take it seriously most days, but when I do, it's VERY serious like, for real.
Reflecting on the guidance you’ve received over the years, which piece of advice stands out and continues to influence you today?
Every. Person. On. This. Planet. Is. Different. And that's the beauty and challenge of being human. My school counsellor told me that, and today it allows me to be curious, open, subjective, and respectful, and create safe spaces.
