Suicide prevention vehicle making trips around Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A suicide prevention-themed vehicle will be hitting the roads of Fort St. John this summer. 

In an episode of This Week in the Peace, Brianne and Justin Lagasse discuss their mission to bring awareness to mental health resources.

“With all the recent losses in the community and some personal losses as well, we decided we had to end the stigma of mental health,” Brianne said. “We had to get the word out there, we had to get the resources out there, and we wanted to make a difference.”

Brianne explained what led them to use a car to spread awareness.

“It’s a mobile billboard, it can go anywhere,” she said. “Driving around town, at community events, the word is getting out there; you can’t help but see it. The colour is so beautiful, the sayings are just so bold, we just really wanted to stand out, make a difference, and just absolutely end the stigma.”

According to Justin, the car originally began as a project between him and Brianne, but eventually grew into something involving the community.

“In the beginning, Brianne and I talked, and we said, ‘you know what, we need to do something about what’s going on in the community.” 

“We both agreed we were going to put 100 per cent of our money into that car, the wrap, the swag…and you know all the resources we need to do.”

Justin said his mom suggested they ask the community for support with the vehicle, which led to the creation of a GoFundMe.

“The minute we put the GoFundMe out there, it was blowing up,” Justin said. 

“We had people saying, ‘hey, can we e-transfer  you some money towards that?’ [We had] people donating, coming to our house and giving us cash towards it and 100 per cent went back into that vehicle.”

Residents or businesses interested in donating to continue to support the project can contact either Legasse on Facebook.

View the full episode of this Week in the Peace below.