Our hearts are breaking and our family chain feels broken. On Saturday, January 21st we lost our brother Lucas Smith to Mental Illness. Another story where our mental health care system failed Him. Lucas was an amazing soul who loved all his family and friends deeply. Always the person we could count on to be at every family event or cheering on and supporting those who meant so much to him.

Those who had the honour of knowing him knew him for his infectious smile and huge heart. He was one to give unconditionally and always put the needs of others before his own.

Our Health care system is in crisis and our mental health system is one with huge gaps that allows outcomes just like this one to happen way to often. He was an advocate for mental health and talked openly about what he was going through. We need to live by his example and fight and advocate for a system the strives to do better.

As you can imagine our family has been left gutted and trying to process how life will go on without him. We want his family to focus on their own wellbeing at this time and be able to grieve the way they need to without having to worry about the financial hardships at this time. We have had so many people reach out asking what they can do and we are putting this go fund me in place to those who wish to help. We thank you for all the words of comfort and will need them in the days ahead. Please remember to Always hug the ones you love and teach them that it's OK to not be OK. All our love the Smith Family.