A White City, Saskatchewan family is raising awareness about youth mental health following the death of their son last month.
Lincoln West, 17, died June 15 in a single-vehicle accident outside of town.
His parents, Debbie and Rick, remember their son as a loving, caring teenager who was passionate about sports.
“He loved watching and playing sports,” his mother said. “Lincoln was a very caring kid. He had a great sense of humor.”
“He always said, ‘I just want to make people laugh,'” Debbie added.
“[Lincoln] “He was so competitive,” Rick said with a laugh. “Every time he lost, he’d always talk about how bad the umpire was on the car ride home.”
Debbie and Rick said Lincoln struggled with his mental health but was afraid to seek help.
“He was so scared that people would find out he was struggling and make fun of him,” Debbie says, “so he didn’t get the help he needed.”
“He lost his life.”
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults ages 15-34.
Rick believes he noticed some of the signs that his son was struggling, like spending a lot of time in bed and not being his usual self in certain situations.
“I thought it was because he was resting after a long week,” Rick said. “When I asked him what had made him upset, he got even more upset.”
His father hopes his son’s story will inspire change.
In Lincoln’s memory, his family has set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for youth mental health services in Saskatchewan.
“Lincoln’s life mattered,” Rick said. “Every child who comes forward, every life that’s saved because of that message, that’s one of the lives that Lincoln saved.”
The fund started with a mere $5,000 goal and has already far surpassed that, raising more than $40,000 in less than three weeks.
“We have to work to change the stigma,” Debbie said, “so kids know they’re safe and can seek the help they need.”
Rick believes change starts in schools and sports teams, and he encourages other parents to create spaces where their children can speak freely and open up.
“If you notice anything unusual, please have a conversation,” he reiterated. “We don’t want to see any more children suffer in silence.”
“Without the support of the community, this would be completely unbearable,” Debbie said. “We can’t thank them enough for how much it means to us and how much it has helped us.”
If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe you can do so here.
