I’m so incredibly grateful for this last weekend! My heart is full, my inspiration is high, my facebook is filled with even more amazing people, and my arm has some brand new ink!
Jack Summit gave me the platform to share my story in 2014 and opened the door to mental health advocacy. It also introduced me to fellow young people making change. Colleen was the first of those amazing advocates that I met 5 years ago, unfortunately she was also the first young person I lost to suicide last October.
Suicide is the #1 health-related cause of death for young people in Canada and that’s a reality I live with, knowing that I will likely lose more people to mental illness. I faced it just 2 weeks ago when a friend had a suicide attempt.
I’m someone that releases that grief in private, usually lying in bed. I just saw my therapist on Thursday and, despite how comfortable and safe that space is, I wasn’t able/willing to let the wall down to feel the emotions following my friend’s attempt.
Some delegates from the summit decided to get tattoos Saturday night. I’ve wanted one to represent jack.org and this was the perfect time! The second Laurel (@winstonartwork) made the first line thoughts of Colleen and my friend flooded my mind. It broke through the wall and my tears just started running and didn’t stop.
Instead of putting the wall back up after she finished the tattoo, I went to the mental health worker’s room at the hotel to talk and let myself cry. People cry at therapy, it’s normal, but it’s not for me. I don’t know when I’ll let the wall down again, but this was a therapy win for sure.