Group combats youth suicide, Reach Up holds dinner, silent auction on Feb. 2

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Blair Edwards

EMC News - Jon Lovagi still struggles with his son Dustyn's suicide.

The 20-year-old had so much going for him: a loving family, friends and a place on the Dean's List at Algonquin College.

But one night in 2005, Dustyn stepped in front of a truck on the Queensway, taking his own life.

"Dustyn didn't want to die," said Lovagi, "But for a brief moment he didn't want to live.'

Lovagi spent the next six years working behind the scenes to improve youth mental health services in the community.

It was only after the high-profile death of Daron Richardson, daughter of Ottawa Senators assistant coach Luke Richardson, that Lovagi gathered the courage to tell his other son, now 15, how his big brother died.

"That's allowed me to be more effective to help youth who are struggling," said Lovagi, the co-chair of Reach Up, a local advocacy group for youth suicide prevention and mental health.

Since then, Lovagi has visited youth and church groups, sharing Dustyn's story and encouraging both teens and adults to start a discussion about how to help the city's troubled youth.

Reach Up's other co-chair, Michael Dixon, said Ottawa's youth suicide rate is on the rise, something he's noticed from his job as an assistant funeral director.

"It would really kind of surprise the general public if they knew how many suicides in this city ... involve young people."

The city only hears about the deaths of the children of well-known parents, such as Daron Richardson and Jamie Hubley, son of Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley, he said.

It's the responsibility of the community as a whole - not just parents - to help troubled youth, added Dixon.

Dixon said he once saw a survey that asked teens: if they were going through a hard time who were the people they would first approach for help.

The top two answers were a friend, followed by a coach or leader of a youth group.

"They have a big responsibility there because kids really look up to them," said Dixon, who coaches minor midget hockey.

"When a player comes to you with a problem or an issue, you don't just shove it off to the side," he said. "When I'm coaching I don't take that lightly."

Coaches need to be aware of the kids who might need help, he said.

"Sometimes you can spot it and unfortunately sometimes you can't."

Certification courses for minor league coaches - whatever the sport - should include education about youth mental health, suggested Dixon.

"I really enjoyed taking coaching courses, especially with hockey," he said. "(But) they really don't spend a lot of time on the player, how to deal with ...different personalities on your team. Maybe there needs to be a section or a little bit of time on that."

Lovagi and Dixon met when they were both pee wee coaches with the Kanata Minor Hockey Association.

FUNDRAISER

On Feb. 2, Reach Up will host a dinner and silent auction at the Sixty Four Hundred Celebration Centre on 6400 Hazeldean Road in Stittsville, to raise money for the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre to help it develop a youth mental health program.

Radio host John Rodenberg will emcee the event, which will be attended by special guests Hubley, Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson and Carleton-Mississippi Mills MPP Jack MacLaren. Hubley and MacLaren will both speak at the event.

Rothwell and Moffat will perform music at the dinner.

Reach Up has also organized a 16-team bantam hockey tournament at the Jack Charron Arena from Feb. 3 to 5, to help fundraise for the youth mental health program.

Tickets to the event are $60, which pays for dinner as well as several raffles and auctions.

Auction items include Ottawa Senators tickets, a hockey stick signed by Todd White, spa gift certificates and box seats to Disney on Ice.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.reachupottawa.com. The organizers hope to raise $10,000 from both events.

The advocacy group is also organizing a golf tournament fundraiser in the summer.

"I know I have personally been overwhelmed and touched by the response of our city," said Dixon. "People are getting the message that our youth need help."