A Saint John committee wants people experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis to know help is out there.
The Saint John Suicide Prevention Committee is installing signs in several strategic locations throughout the city.
Brandi Downey, the co-chair of the committee, said the signs include the message “Hey, you OK? It’s OK not to be OK” and the number for Saint John Mobile Crisis Services.
“We wanted it to be eye-catching that if you are struggling and you’re potentially walking in that direction that you would see this sign that jumped out at you that says “Hey, are you OK?” and making it clear that it’s OK not to be OK,” said Downey.
The signs are being placed at the corner of McAllister Drive and Rothesay Avenue, the corner of Main Street and Douglas Avenue, the corner of Union Street and Crown Street, and the corner of Garden Street and Hazen Street.
Downey said two of the signs are also being installed along the eastbound and westbound approach to the Reversing Falls Bridge.
“The Reversing Falls Bridge was something that people had requested for a long time, so the committee actually for a few years has been working on trying to get signage near the bridge,” she said.
The project is a partnership between the committee and the Maddy Murphy Memorial Foundation. The foundation was created in memory of 21-year-old Maddy Murphy, who died by suicide in 2019.
Downey said they hope to get a poster form of the signs into schools and primary health-care offices in Saint John and in the outlying communities such as Quispamsis, Rothesay, Grand Bay-Westfield and Hampton.
“What we’re hoping is that more people will take advantage of this excellent service we have here in the city and that when they’re in a crisis or they have a loved one in crisis that they will phone this number for support,” she said.
Saint John Mobile Crisis Services can be reached 24/7 by calling 1-888-811-3664.
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