Bob Dylan doesn’t have a Twitter account. He has an official Facebook page, but it’s clearly not him doing the posting. When he does interviews — rarely — he’s been known to speak in rambles and riddles, especially during points in his career when he’s felt particularly combative with the press.
Even in comparison to other music icons, we never really get to know Bob Dylan.
In some respects, Matt Burgar can relate. At the age of six, Matt was diagnosed with a learning disability. It makes it difficult for him to concentrate; he describes it as having a different way of understanding things than other people. When life gets a bit stressed or off-balance, he often feels anxious. And there have been many times growing up when his experiences have left him feeling lonely and isolated.
“I was bullied a lot when I was younger,” he says. “People didn’t understand me, and sometimes I feel like people still don’t always understand me. I want people to not have to go through that, and others [going through that] need to know they’re not alone.”
Matt persevered: now, at the age of 23, he’s in the fourth year of his History degree at Dalhousie and has taken up the cause of helping people understand and appreciate his experiences, as well as those of others who live with learning disorders and mental illnesses.
A voice for mental health
This Friday night, Matt takes to stage at the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia’s annual “A Different Stage of Mind” fundraiser as the youngest solo performer in the event’s 13-year history. Hosted by Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, the event features business and community leaders performing as iconic music stars to raise funds for mental health programs and services in the province.
Matt, who has been part of the event in previous years singing with the Men for Mental Health Choir, will be performing as Bob Dylan — complete with the outfit, the voice, the guitar and the songs, including classics like “Like a Rolling Stone” and “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” his personal favourite.
“Bob Dylan kind of seemed like a perfect match for me,” says Matt. “[Dylan] was a troubadour, and he’s kind of misunderstood sometimes. But also I like his music: he’s a great songwriter, a very good musician. And some of his songs have a good message to them if you interpret them as having a positive mental health spin.”
With support from his parents, Donna and Rod, who’ve been helping rally business contacts to the cause, Matt has raised $50,000 and counting for the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.
Starr Dobson, the foundation’s president and CEO, says the event is not just about fundraising, though: it’s also about putting mental health in the spotlight.
“By celebrating the voices of our community leaders, we're giving a voice to those Nova Scotians who are struggling in silence,” she says. “Awareness is just as important as dollars when it comes to muting the stigma."
Dobson adds that having someone like Matt, who lives daily with mental health challenges, as part of the performing lineup sums up what the event is all about.
“We need more mental health champions who aren't afraid to share their personal stories. By singing loud and strong Matt is empowering others. His story of inspiration will absolutely change the way people think."
Facing challenges
Even as he gets closer to the end of his Dal degree, Matt’s story is not without its struggles sometimes.
“Having a learning disability can be messy at times,” he says. “It can be tough, for sure; that’s an understatement. But you get through it, you accept it, and you learn to live with it — and not only can you live with it, but I think you can thrive with it.”
Music is part of how Matt aims to thrive. He’s owned a guitar since the age of 13, but it’s really been in the past five years or so that he’s taken to playing regularly, everything from blues and jazz to rock and metal. He’s also greatly enjoyed his time at Dal, having long been a big history buff.
“It’s been challenging,” he says of his studies, “but that’s part of the whole thing about university: you want it to be challenging. If it’s not challenging, you might not be in the right courses.”
And he’s already thinking ahead to future challenges, including potentially pursuing further studies in education. (He says being a teacher is something he thinks he’d enjoy.) But, right now, his focus is on being the best Bob Dylan possible.
“I hope people enjoy it, and that they learn people with learning disabilities and learning challenges are not all the same,” he says of his performance. “People with mental health issues should be respected and treated as members of society, and as equal to anyone else in society. And I hope it encourages others to speak out as well.”
You can donate to support Matt and the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia on his fundraising page.
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