My Letter Published in The Globe and Mail today

[Reality]

Like Ashley, my son died alone, in our home.  Like Jack Windeler, alone.   Like two other young men connected to us through close friends.  Our family sought help for years.  Never lucky, like David.

The urgent need for residential treatment facilities for our youth is critical.  These young people all needed compassionate, structured help to regain their place in society.  Once they are undone, only a community of dedicated adults and an educational programme to correct the systemic derailment will save them.  Not to mention exercise and nutrition.  Solitary confinement means no exercise.  A cage.  Different circumstances, same cage.

The street kids, our First Nations, our youth derailed by isolation, our prison population... .  how long do we need to talk?  A young child can make these connections.

Reality

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[lbjnltx]

Such a champion you are for your beloved son Reality.

I don't know the story of Ashley, Jack or David.  Yet I can imagine their struggles and the pain their Mom's endure.

You are becoming a force to be reckoned with, a voice that cannot be ignored.

You have a strength deep inside that will not allow you to be silent.

You inspire me!

 

lbj

[whiletheseasonspass]

Hello Reality,

I agree with everything lbj said to you.  YOU are an amazing person. 

 

wtsp

[griz]

Amen to that.  Reality you are truly an inspiration to me and all of us here.

Griz

[Reality]

Ashley Smith was sent from prison to prison and placed in solitary confinement over and over again.  She strangled herself in an Ontario prison with guards watching and not intervening last year. 

Jack Windeler sat in his dorm room at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.  He stopped going to classes.  No-one on his dorm floor intervened when Jack sat in his room day after day.  They noticed, but no-one did anything.  Jack hung himself.  His father started The Jack Project to help youth in transition from high school to university.

David Clayton-Thomas was in the band Blood, Sweat and Tears.  He left home at 15 because of a brutally abusive father and was sent to jail for minor demeanors several times.  Luckily, he bought a cheap guitar and decided to start singing the blues.  The rest is history.

Reality

Thank you, kind friends, for your encouraging words. 

[Being Mindful]

Reality, You are an inspiration to me.   

Being Mindful

[cfh]

Reality

Keep up the good fight for Will and all the young ones out there who need help! I just started the Family Connections Course and this subject gets talked about quite a bit.

[mikmik]

Reality,

From all your tragedy and pain: comes the beauty of your words, the call to action, the spotlight shines, some eyes may begin to open, perhaps some minds as well.  Your conviction is inspirational.  Keep banging the drum!

ps: I think of Will every day, some steps are few, some steps are many, but I am walking for him!

mik

[MammaMia]

Those of us with mentally ill children live in fear every day.  While we try to protect them from themselves, we cannot be there 24/7.  Society treats stray animals better than disturbed youth. 

Not all mental disorders are immediately visible, and people need to take notice when they see others struggling.  Forget the "I don't want to get involved" mentality... .  DO something.  TELL someone.  Once tragedy strikes, it is too late.  No parent should ever have to lose a child, and no child should ever have to feel death is the only answer.