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Little did Jack Windeler know when he took his own life that he would leave a legacy for other young people.

Windeler excelled at everything he did ... sports, studies, friendships and, yet, in his first year at Queen's University at the age of 18, he died by suicide.

The Jack Project, named after Jack Windeler, is "... an initiative of 'Kids Help Phone' in partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, that tries to promote mental health literacy, challenge stigma and encourage help-seeking in young people aged 15 to 20".

Young people, by the very nature of their age, go through a stage of transition that for many is a very difficult time.  Going from childhood to adulthood carries with it all kinds of stresses such as school, peer pressures, social and family issues and the statistics are revealing:

• suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people after motor vehicle accidents

• approximately 15% of Canadian teens have engaged in self-injury

• 70% of young people who use Kids Help Phone have been bullied on-line

Recently, at Saugeen District Secondary School in Port Elgin, several adults and teens came together to learn first-hand about the Jack Project. 

Dan Johnston, Manager of the Outreach Program explained the Project and welcomed audience participation in voicing their own concerns.  "For young people who have a difficulty in talking to adults but who arrive at a point where they want to reach out, the  'Kids Help Phone' provides an on-line counselling service that is a free, anonymous, confidential and referral service."

Kids Help Phone has access to more than 38,000 resource and referral agencies across Canada.

Johnston also pointed out that, "While parents, grandparents and other adults want to provide support, guidance, direction and help for their youth, often conversation is the most difficult thing to engage in.  Young people can call the Kids Help Phone at any time, day or night seven days a week and have a live chat with a professional counselor."

According to Johnston, overall well-being is very complex and there is no easy solution when someone is having mental health issues.  "There are many symptoms that parents and or caregivers can learn about and, hopefully, this will help in their recognizing a potential problem and to seek out help."

For youth wanting help call: 

Kids Help Phone @ 1-800-668-6868

For anyone who wants to learn more about The Jack Project email  thejackproject@kidshelpphone.ca  or visit www.thejackproject.org 

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Thursday, December 08, 2011