Jason

Jason is a passionate mental health advocate, policy enthusiast, and nonprofit founder dedicated to reshaping how community mental health care is structured. His journey with mental illness, recovery, and access to treatment has fueled his desire to create a system that is truly community-driven, rather than built around institutional needs.

His involvement with the Council for Community Mental Health began in 2022, initially through focus groups exploring how to integrate lived experience into leadership. What kept him engaged was the council’s governance model, which ensured that people with lived experience had real decision-making power, not just an advisory role. Jason is committed to preventing top-down hierarchies from forming, ensuring that the council remains democratic, inclusive, and people-centered.

In addition to his work on the council, Jason is currently in the early stages of launching a nonprofit foundation focused on financial accessibility for mental health treatment. Having been fortunate enough to receive family-supported care, he is determined to create solutions for those who don’t have that safety net.

He is also combining boxing and mental health, as both are deeply personal to him.  Boxing played a crucial role in his own recovery, offering him a sense of control, purpose, and resilience. He is now organizing a charity boxing event, with proceeds going toward mental health services like Kickstand and The Mental Health Foundation.

Jason believes the future of mental health care must evolve with societal and technological changes. His message to others is simple: “You are not alone. Even if you don’t believe in recovery yet, borrow someone else’s hope until you find your own.”

Q&A

Can you share a bit about yourself and what inspired you to join the Council?

I was initially brought into these conversations back in November 2022 when I was connected through a friend who was working at End Poverty Edmonton at the time. They were running focus groups to explore the possibility of a council for people with lived experience in mental health. From there, I started attending meetings, and it eventually evolved into what is now the Council for Community Mental Health.

What kept me involved was the people and my desire to see something real take shape. I was especially drawn to the governance model because it wasn’t just an advisory group—this was about real decision-making power. It’s one thing to share your story; it’s another thing to actively shape policy and systems that impact people like me. That was important to me.

What do you personally bring to the council? (What are the unique perspectives that you bring?)

I bring my lived experience with mental illness and recovery, and I think my perspective resonates especially with younger men, who often struggle with accessing support. My personal journey was very much shaped by the fact that I wouldn’t have sought help on my own—my family played a huge role in getting me the support I needed. That financial and emotional support was the only reason I made it through.

That made me think: What about the people who don’t have that? If I didn’t have my family pushing me, I never would have accessed therapy, medication, or other treatments. That’s why I’m passionate about making sure supports are accessible to people who don’t have that safety net.

I also bring a deep interest in governance and policy-making. I’ve always been curious about how mental health systems operate and how top-down hierarchies form over time, even in well-intentioned spaces. My goal is to make sure that doesn’t happen here—that we maintain a truly community-led, democratic structure where lived experience is more than just a box to check off.

What are your interests outside of mental health advocacy?

I’m currently in the early stages of launching my own nonprofit foundation, which is deeply tied to my lived experience. The foundation is focused on financial accessibility for mental health treatment, recognizing that the ability to get help shouldn’t be dependent on money or family support.

In addition, I’m doing work surrounding boxing and mental health. Boxing was something that played a huge role in my own recovery—it gave me a sense of control, purpose, and discipline. I want to create spaces where people can access those same benefits while also raising funds for mental health initiatives.

We can use boxing as a way to raise funds for mental health organizations like Kickstand and The Mental Health Foundation. It’s an exciting way to merge physical and mental well-being while giving back.

What are your hopes for the future of mental health in our community?

I hope that we can move toward a system that meets people where they are, instead of forcing them to fit into rigid models of care. Right now, mental health services are still built around the needs of organizations, not the needs of people. That needs to change.

We also have to recognize how mental health struggles are evolving. The way people experience mental health today is very different from even 10-15 years ago. Technology, social media, and societal expectations play a much bigger role now, especially for younger generations. If we don’t acknowledge that, we’re not going to create solutions that actually work for them.

At the end of the day, I want mental health care to be accessible, adaptable, and truly community-driven. That’s why I’m here.

What message would you like to share with someone who might be struggling with their mental health right now?

You are not alone, even if it feels like you are. I know firsthand how impossible it can seem to reach out for help. There was a time when I thought I wouldn’t, and I almost didn’t—but my family pushed me to keep going. Not everyone has that kind of support, and that’s why I want to help build systems that support people when they can’t do it alone.

If you’re struggling, please don’t give up. Even if you don’t believe in recovery yet, borrow someone else’s hope until you can find your own. Keep going.

Might be nice to incorporate your age somehow, as that feels super relevant to the perspectives and experience you bring to the table.

This can also start with something like, "Hi, I'm Jason and blah blah blah" if that feels natural to you? Let me know how you would like to introduce yourself!

Oh also, do you have a photo that you like and would be comfortable having on the website? It's okay if not! And do you want your full name or just your first name?