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Fort St. John, B.C. residents Justin and Brianne Lagassé say they’ve never seen a billboard for mental health.
But they want to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health by driving a car custom-wrapped in hues of teal and purple, colours often used to raise awareness for suicide intervention and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Justin says the car has become a well-supported community project.
“The fact that we’re able to drive this around, drive it through an intersection, and that one person who’s having a bad day can read the message on my back window and know that there’s people out there that care,” he said.
The couple said they felt compelled to create the car following multiple youth suicides last year in the Peace region, including their 11-year old nephew.
“He was just the most funniest, caring person in the world, who was quick to tell a funny joke and always brighten anyone’s day,” said Brianne. “Nobody really knew that he was struggling.”
Fort St. John, B.C., couple Brianne and Justin Lagassé at the Taylor, B.C., car show on May 30, 2026. They say the car was well-supported by the community. (Tom Summer/CBC)
It’s been less than a year since his death, they explained. Two more youth suicides occurred in December over the winter holidays.
“We just definitely knew we needed to get this car out there and get this project going, have it be more than just a vision, and it had to come to life right away,” Brianne said.
Brianne took part in suicide prevention training offered by Foundry Fort St. John, a branch of the YMCA specializing in youth services, after realizing she wanted to be better equipped to talk about mental health.
“For me, it was just very empowering,” she said.
“It’s a little bit emotional just going through a personal loss as well. It just felt really, really good to get that training and know that I can help somebody.”
The teal and purple vehicle made an appearance at the Taylor, B.C., car show, a community roughly 18 kilometres south of Fort St. John, and will be touring across the Peace region all summer.
In addition to the bright teal and purple colours, the car is wrapped in positive messages, with the front, side and back emblazoned with reminders for the community that there is help for anyone struggling with mental health. (Tom Summer/CBC)
“We just really wanted to have a lot of very positive, uplifting messages for community members to look at,” said Brianne.
The trunk of the car is loaded with mental health and suicide awareness items, resources, and materials, including pamphlets and information about local community resources and support services available.
“A lot of community members said they didn’t know what resources were available,” said Brianne.
“We just wanted to spread awareness to let people know that there are health resources available. People care, they are loved, they matter.”
The car has several positive messages on it, letting residents in the Peace region know that there is help available for anyone struggling with mental health. (Tom Summer/CBC)
Brianne says it’s difficult for many people struggling with mental health, but she wants individuals to know they are not alone — there is help available.
Embarrassment and shame often keep both adults and children from talking about their feelings, she explained.
“The oil field workers or some of the big burly guys, they don’t want to admit that they have any problems,” Brianne said.
“Some of the kids are scared that they’ll get made fun of, if they tell people that they have anxiety or depression.”
Donations are also being collected to help print resources, and create mental health themed items to give away.
“This is a big community project. Everyone has put a little bit of everything into it, down to the bodywork of the car,” Justin said. “It’s not our car anymore. It’s the community’s car.”
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