Research shows 3500 Canadians die by suicide each year and almost 800 are young people. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people age 10 to 24 after motor vehicle accidents.

We strive to defeat the stigma that has bigoted people’s attitudes and fed the discrimination that many have endured. This is in the hope that people will feel comfortable talking about mental illness like any other disease.

Maryvale treats 700 teenagers annually and half of them are desperate for counseling. Mental health care is underfunded. Our goal is to have fundraising for mental illness reach the same high profile as cancer or heat and stroke.