About Jack.org

Mental health struggles don't start in an emergency room. They start in classrooms, around kitchen tables, and in front of screens. Most young people will never reach a doctor's office before a struggle becomes a crisis. The people around them can spot it first, but that circle of care is the most under-supported part of the system. We're here to change that.

‍

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for young people in Canada.
Over half of young people who need support never receive it.
60% of young people turn to a friend, parent or educator in crisis.
70% of mental illnesses start during youth.

Everyday support is suicide prevention. The earlier we reach a young person, the further we keep them from crisis.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 any time, or go to your nearest emergency department.

‍

Our history

After losing their son Jack to suicide, Eric Windeler and Sandra Hanington turned their grief into a movement. It began in 2010 with a small group of friends on the first Jack Ride and a pilot event for youth. Since then, it has reached hundreds of thousands of young people, educators, parents and community members across Canada and beyond.

‍

Eric believed every young person deserved someone who knew how to recognize struggle, start a conversation, and help them find support before a crisis. He believed in the transformational power of young people, and he spent his life helping them support one another.

‍

We lost Eric in 2026. His vision continues to guide us, and the movement he built is his legacy. As he would say: we're just getting started.

‍

Read more about Eric's life and legacy →

‍

Our journey and impact

Canada has a framework for suicide prevention. Our programs deliver it. Every Jack.org program is mapped to the protective factors in the Government of Canada's 2016 Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention: mental health literacy, help-seeking and offering, community belonging, stigma reduction, and youth engagement and empowerment.

‍

Our FY26 results

Be There Certificate: 100,000+ completions since launch. 95% feel able to safely support someone; 85% have used their skills to support someone.

‍
Jack Talks: 345 Talks reaching 11,900+ young people. 66% are better able to recognize early signs of struggle; 77% are more aware of resources.

‍
Jack Communities: 158 Chapters and 42 Champions; 3,300 youth leaders; 92,000 young people reached through Communities events. 82% deepened their understanding of mental health.

‍
edHUB: 22,200 visits and 6 new Jack Intersections lesson plans, curriculum-aligned for Grades 9–12.

‍
Community partnerships: 3 Black-led and Black-serving partners; 1,300+ young people; 18 community-led initiatives.
Jack Ride: 818 riders and 76 teams raised $1 million.

‍

"Jack Talks changed my life by letting me know I wasn't alone. I want to make sure other young people know that too." — Larissa

Read more about our impact →

‍

Looking forward

Our strategic plan, Foundations for Change 2027–2029, sets one goal: by FY2029, reach 1 in every 10 young people in Canada. That means more young people have someone close by — a friend, classmate or teammate — who knows how to recognize struggle, reach out, and help them get support. We'll get there by building a national movement led by young people, funding that sustains our impact, and infrastructure strong enough to meet demand.

‍

Our strategic plan →

‍

Our commitment to transparency and trust

Jack.org is accredited by Imagine Canada, Canada's most esteemed nonprofit standards, for excellence in accountability, transparency, and good governance. We are dedicated to holding ourselves to the highest standards for our community, supporters, and the youth we serve.

‍

See where your support goes in our FY26 financial snapshot →