At CPA Canada’s ONE National Conference, I stood on stage not just as a CPA, but as someone who nearly lost everything to burnout and untreated bipolar disorder. These are the stories, shifts, and small wins that are changing how we approach mental health in accounting.

From breakdown to breakthrough. When Shak took the stage at The ONE National Conference, it wasn’t to perform—it was to be real. In front of fellow CPAs, he spoke openly about living with bipolar disorder while chasing partnership, what broke him down, and what helped him rebuild. This is a story about pressure, stigma, and the power of sharing it out loud.