In 1990, family and friends lost John Treadway to suicide when he was only 23 yrs old. John had secretly suffered from depression going back to his teens. For years after he passed I was somewhat philosophical. With the passage of time, the knowledge we've collectively gained about depression including just how much a difference early intervention makes, I am no longer okay about his loss. His death did not need to happen, especially had he been a teen of the 21st century with all its gains in knowledge, medication, and treatment.

I recognize that mental illness is extremely complex; there's no easy fixes. But the prognosis for a person experiencing serious depression improves substantially with early intervention. There are SO MANY teens struggling with anxiety and depression. LifeAct is truly making an impact by identifying thousands of students each school year as at-risk for depression and suicide. As a result of our program, kiddos ask for help for themselves or for a peer. Our instructors also identify a significant number just by the questions they ask or their behavior during the program delivery. I'm not saying our program is the only solution to suicide, but I am saying it is a critical piece of the prevention puzzle. I'm so proud of my dad, Big T, for founding LifeAct -- in a very dark time he sought to make a difference -- and he has!

I can't bring John back. I miss him every day. We were close in age, and I adored him because he was such a freaking great guy. But at least I know that through LifeAct, others do not need to suffer the loss we have, and at least some lives won't be cut way too short.

Thanks for your support!

- Jenny Treadway Burke