Many teenagers go through various struggles growing up.
For Trevor Brown, his adolescence changed the course of his life, after witnessing two close friends commit suicide.
“I didn’t know who I could talk to. Didn’t know I could have a conversation around suicide,” he said.
The 29-year-old had no one and nowhere to turn to until he sought help from Lethbridge Family Services. It was an experience he said brought him to use his personal experience with suicide to help youth-at-risk.
“I think youth are opened. I think they’re ready for a lot of conversations. They’re just looking for it. I like how real they are. They’re high energy. They don’t take any BS,” said Brown.
Brown is the co-founder of Building Bridges, a program working with at-risk-youth. He said the goal is “to help them build social skills and understand sometimes the complexity of the issues that surround us and help navigate their way through their teen years.”
Rod Dueck is the assistant principal at Victoria Park High School. He said Brown provided students with an outlet they never had before. “He’s in this business because he cares about kids and he makes a difference,” he added.
“What he’s doing is breaking down the barrier and letting kids talk about what’s going on behind the front.”
If you, a family member or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, or you believe they may be suffering from severe depression and/or anxiety, you can call Lethbridge Family Services: (403) 327-5724.
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