Italian Roots and Canadian Upbringing

• 🇮🇹 Will Sasso's parents immigrated to Canada from Naples, Italy, bringing with them large family traditions.
• 🇨🇦 Born in Canada, Sasso grew up in Ladner, British Columbia, a suburban area surrounded by farmland and marshlands.
• 🎭 Despite a love for fine arts and theater, Sasso played football and was captain of the team in high school.

Early Acting Career and Parental Support

• 🎬 Sasso began acting in TV and film in Vancouver, securing an agent and his first role shortly after.
• 🤔 His parents, while loving, didn't fully grasp his career choice, coming from a generation where traditional careers were the norm.
• 🙏 Sasso credits teachers like Eileen Joe for fostering his passion for the arts and encouraging his pursuit of acting.

Navigating Clinical Depression

• ☁️ Sasso experienced clinical depression starting in his early 30s, a journey he describes as a "dark cloud."
• 🗣️ He found significant benefit in talk therapy and later, medication, emphasizing that it's not a sign of weakness but a tool for managing mental health.
• 🤝 Sasso advocates for destigmatizing mental health issues, highlighting that one can experience depression even during successful periods in life.

Personal Growth and Coping Mechanisms

• 🧘 He emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and self-love, acknowledging that it's a continuous practice.
• 💨 Sasso discusses his use of marijuana, which he started later in life, finding it helps him focus and relax, unlike alcohol which he has given up.
• 🧠 He believes that while medication can open channels, personal work like gratitude and meditation is also crucial for managing depression.

Advice to Younger Self

• 💪 To his 16-year-old self, Sasso would advise focusing on self-love, healthy habits like exercise, and understanding that challenges can be overcome.
• 🌟 He stresses that young people today face unique challenges and need to hear that "it gets better" and that self-acceptance is key.