Canadian diver Molly Carlson encourages youth to speak up ahead of World Mental Health Day

As qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics approached, Molly Carlson found herself in a dark place. She was struggling through a binge eating disorder, had body dysmorphia, and was constantly comparing her body to the other athletes on Canada's diving team.

Because Carlson is tall for a diver at five-foot-nine, the sport didn't come naturally to her and she felt that extra pressure while trying to make Canada's Olympic team.

"It was just a lot of self hate and I couldn't open up about it because I thought I was doing what I needed to do to be the best athlete that I could be," said Carlson. "When, at the end of the day, that's absolutely not what I needed.

Ultimately, Carlson was not selected to Canada's Olympic team but instead of feeling sad or disappointed, she was relieved because she didn't have to carry that pressure anymore.

"I could step out of that stressful situation and get the help that I needed," said Carlson. "That's when I decided to ask for help for the first time."

Carlson is far from alone.

Recent data from Canadian Women & Sport, a non-profit that partners with sport organizations, governments, and leaders to build better sport through gender equity, has found that only 1 in 10 girls feel well equipped to talk about their mental health and well-being.

Carlson arrived at Florida State University for her freshman year shortly after being passed over for the Olympic team. When she arrived at her new school she decided to open up to John Proctor, her new high diving coach, and it was then that her mental health began to improve.

The 25-year-old from Fort Frances, Ont., is now a star on TikTok and readying for another run at qualifying for the Olympics. She has also become an advocate for youth mental health