Scholarship Aimed at Mental Health Research
Prince George, B.C. – Out of tragedy, comes a glimmer of hope, a hope for more research and understanding of depression and mental illnesses.
The glimmer comes from Linda Parker and family. Parker’s 20 year old son Jared was suffering from anxiety and depression and in April of this year took his own life.
“We wanted to create something positive, something for the community in honour of our son’s life, and that is the UNBC Jared Parker Memorial Scholarship” says Linda Parker.
The goal for the scholarship is $30 thousand dollars, “We hope to award an annual scholarship to a deserving UNBC student who may go on to study suicide and mental health issues” says Parker.
This is the time of year for giving, it is also the time of year when some will slip into what has been labeled the ‘Christmas blues’ “Christmas is not necessarily a happy time for everyone” says Linda Parker, “and yes, thoughts of suicide and people taking action on their thoughts of suicide does occur more often at this time of year, so it is appropriate that during this season of giving we ask people to consider giving to this scholarship. We hope it will benefit the community in the future and help create awareness around mental health and depression.”
Donations can be made to UNBC directed to the Jared Parker Memorial Scholarship Fund directly or online by clicking here.
Comments
I am so very touched after reading this article and so very sad. I have two sons, one of whom is 20. Boys in thier teenage years deal with things differently, I also have a daughter. My daughter wore her heart, and anger and frustration with life, school, friends and peer pressure on her sleeve – it was not always easy coping with her moods – but we always knew what she feeling. Boys tend to internalize, I know my one son did, until one evening in his mid teens he came to my room late at night in tears, he was having such a difficult time with ‘life’ and he just broke down, while I had some idea…I didnt realize how heavy these things were weighing on him. The suicide rate among young men, boys really, scares me. I will donate to this scholarship. I will pray that Linda Parker, and the many other parents find peace, and that studies in this area will one day change statistics.
Comes at a time when Northen Health is cutting youth mental health and addictions workers.
Yes, also comes at the same time that the college slashed counselling, even though 30% of the counselling intake wanted to talk about suicide.
Thank you Linda Parker and family. RIP Jared. Out of tragedy comes a beautiful legacy of hope. This is just lovely!
So very sorry for your loss Linda and family, easy does it during this holiday time! You are GOOD people!!!
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