Bridge of Hope organizer Jessica Holly says she wants to "create a movement of kindness." (Danielle McCreadie)
In the face of a mental health epidemic, one Saint Johner is spreading a message of kindness and hope.
Jessica Holly is the organizer of Bridge of Hope, a grassroots movement that aims to fill the gaps in the mental health system.
Holly says in lieu of mental health supports from the government, she is asking community members to step up and help those in need.
“I don’t believe the system is broken, I think the system is just overwhelmed. So why can’t we take some of that on? You don’t have to be a mental health professional to listen to someone. Just being able to unload sometimes can give someone a little bit of relief,” she said.
Holly says she has plenty of ideas, including building a team of volunteers, and starting a foundation for those who can’t afford counseling.
“The main focus first is going to be a crisis line. Mobile Mental Health I believe at midnight, their phones switch over to Tele-care and then, unfortunately, there isn’t anyone to be able to go out to someone in crisis. So we want to kind of fill that gap for now,” she said.
She says she also wants to build a memorial at the Reversing Falls Bridge for those who lost their lives to suicide.
Holly says Saint John is facing “an epidemic” when it comes to mental health and suicide, and despite the pain, it has brought people together.
“People from all different walks of life and all different sides of the city, and it’s been amazing to see how many people regardless of their faith or their race, everyone is coming together because when we strip all of our labels off, we’re the exact same,” she said.
Bridge of Hope’s first event was so well received by the community, Holly held another one Wednesday night.
This time, supporters marched from King’s Square to the Market Square Atrium, where they listened to speeches, songs, and stories.
“If you talk, I’ll listen,” says the song, echoing a message Holly is trying to spread: you don’t have to be a therapist to listen to someone’s troubles, and help fill the gaps in the mental health system. pic.twitter.com/eSyUf3sy9p
— Danielle McCreadie (@danimccreadie) October 23, 2019
Holly says she didn’t expect the movement to grow as big as it has, but is ready to see some change in the community.
Holly is also urging government officials to start taking action.
“We’re supposed to be one of the friendliest cities in Canada and here we are facing a suicide epidemic. There’s something wrong, and I would like to see the government step up and help,” she said.
But she says we can’t rely only on the government to solve the problem.
“We can’t fix the system if we can’t fix the problem as well. If we keep treating people poorly and we keep affecting people’s mental health with bullying or all the other negative things that people do, we’re just going to keep bogging the system down. No matter how big the system gets it’s not going to stop unless we become kind people,” she said.
Holly is also asking the municipal, provincial, and federal governments to continue exploring a potential barrier on the Reversing Falls Bridge.
