In 2013 my family got involved with a charity that was designed to help youths deal with mental health problems, this organization is known as WesForYouthOnline, and since my family was dealing with the loss of my cousin: my aunt and uncle wanted to create their own organization, and thus GetInTouchForHutch was created to honor my cousin Steve, who took his own life in his university dorm room. Every year, around the 1st of July, GITFH hosts a one and five kilometer charity walk through the town of Arthur to raise money for the organizations, and other mental health outlets. They also have a charity auction that sells donated goods, the proceeds go to organizing the events. Other events are orchestrated: the first is a yearly hockey game between the two teens former teams; having people talk at sporting events and public events; and setting up information days at schools. To the date roughly $225,000 has been raised to help raise awareness and help "eliminate the stigma of mental health"(Hutch web). My family wanted to get involved with mental health because it is something that will affect everyone at some point in their life, also what happened to Steve was an impossible idea in our heads, he was one of the happiest most kind people that you could ever meet, the realization that Steve was suffering in silence is what made my Aunt and Uncle want to reach out and help people since they didn’t want another family to go through what they had. The rest of my family decided to get involved because we realized that if we could help people with their problems then it was our responsibility to do so.
Works Cited
#GetInTouchForHutch. getintouchforhutch.com/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017.
Wes for Youth Online. www.wesforyouthonline.ca/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017.
I would just like to say that I think this is amazing your family is supporting mental health. They say one in five people suffer from mental health. Support and open communication is the key but very difficult to do if someone for whatever reason cannot open up. I remember the year Amanda Todd committed suicide, 2012. I was in grade 7. I did not know this person and her death really bothered me. I used my money and made silicon bracelets to sell at school. I raised about $450.00 and the money was donated locally to Dufferin Child and Family Services as we were unable to directly donate it to the Amanda Todd fund. I have attached her you tube video. In Amanda's case bullying lead to mental health issues, or perhaps exacerbated mental health issues. Good on your family to support such an under funded issue.
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ReplyDeleteAs a culture, we are beginning to shift towards recognizing mental health as being just as important as physical health. For many years it was hard for people in Canada to believe in something that they couldn't see. Unfortunately it sometimes takes a tragedy (or a celebrity) to make people reconsider their perspectives. But if enough people change their minds, then our whole culture shifts. I'm so glad that you are a positive part of that movement, and my kids will always take part in the Fergus "Get in Touch for Hutch" events. Thank you for helping to create this opportunity.
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