About
Jack.org is the only charity in Canada that partners with young leaders in every province and territory to improve youth mental health outcomes in their communities. Our reasons are clear: suicide remains the leading health-related cause of death for young people, accounting for 25% of youth death, and most young people still don’t get the support they need when they’re struggling with their mental health. The pandemic has only exacerbated this emergency, with youth across the country consistently at higher risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes than any other age group.
Our work aims to enhance young people’s ability to recognize struggle in both themselves and their peers, seek out appropriate mental health support and resources, and advocate for systems that are better able to meet the diverse and complex needs of young people. Our goal is to ensure that every young person in the country gets the help they deserve.
Our Impact
Jack Talks are mental health presentations delivered by two post-secondary aged youth speakers who have been trained to use the power of their personal stories to safely educate their peers about how to look out for themselves and one another, increase their mental health literacy, and build awareness about resources that are available in their communities.
Jack Chapters are groups of young leaders who work year-round to identify and dismantle barriers to positive mental health in their communities. With training and mentorship from Jack.org staff, they organize mental health initiatives that are designed to meet the needs of their peers. Through these awareness and education initiatives, youth Chapter leaders raise awareness, reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking, and help build mentally healthy communities.
Jack Summits are youth-led conferences held across the country where young people gather at a local, regional, and national level to share ideas, build leadership and advocacy skills, and strategize on how to change systems for the better.
Be There is an award-winning digital resource that teaches people how to recognize when a peer is struggling, safely engage in difficult conversations, and protect their own mental health while supporting someone else.