Community Crisis In Saint John - Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Homelessness

"If you want to save the world - save yourself first". The best version of you (the compassionate, loving, patient, joy-rich version) - is a light for others.

Jordan, what I love most about your videos is your curious mind and how comfortable you make people feel as they share their stories. These are complex issues; however, there are solutions. They are well known and have been spoken many times. Do we have the will as a society, maybe even the grit, to provide the essential support so desperately needed? Keep up the fantastic storytelling. Any measure of community success that ignores the reality that our fellow citizens face so many barriers and suffer without their most basic needs being met is a failure to accept those facts in front of our eyes.

You should reach out to Dr. Eric Weissman from UNBSJ to do an interview. Guy is a Saint, was homless for many years, and I'd love to see his perspectives shared more with the city

You know, the faces change but the issues remain. I have been clean since 2012. I spent many years on the streets of Saint John using and selling myself for money. Back then, it wasn't as bad as it is now. It was crack and Dilaudid that were the problems. I understand both sides of the issue. It took many tries but eventually sobriety stuck. I wasted years in and out of the county jail. Would get clean and then go back out and use again. It's a viscous cycle. From my experience, I was just tired. I ended up on the county jail for the last time and after sleeping for 2 days, I felt exhausted mentally, physically and emotionally. I sat in my cell and wrote out a treatment plan for myself. I had to go back to court for sentencing and I think they could see a change in me. They actually gave me a chance to help myself. I'll forever be grateful.

Powerful video. You are wonderfully talented - Saint John is lucky to have you. You are a light in this world!

That was an incredible video. Thanks for bringing genuine voices and faces to this crisis.

Thank you for this captivating video Jordan and for shedding light on what so many of our friends, neighbours and family members are struggling with.

Hey it’s super cool how Derrick can help these strangers but won’t help his own child because he can’t accept certain things about me. He’s refusing to aid in my recovery and can put on a front for the news, but will not allow me to live with him unless I sacrifice myself and stay a woman to make him comfortable. He’s not about recovery, he’s about putting on a front.

Thanks for bringing these peoples' truths + perspectives into reality for us, Jordan. I'm going to share this with my network and I hope this brings a lot of awareness and action to these issues!

I’m originally from Saint John. I left in 1983 before it turned 18 went to Toronto frying pan into the fire spent 20 years there and now I live east of Toronto for 21 years, I’m grateful to say I’m a recovering addict. I had a relapsed two years ago that almost killed me. My mental health had already gone downhill really bad so my mental illnesses really crept up on me and I rely on narcotics anonymous and professional help to help me stay clean a day at a time. Streets have no heart the only thing that changes of the faces the game is still the same. It’s a dark cold and it’s eat or be eaten. They’ll eat you up and spit you out. I’m never going back one day at a time and thanks to my beautiful adopted rescue dog.. believe me if I can get clean again and be doing so well anyone can. ❤️🙏

It’s so well done. I have such a better understanding of what’s happening over there, a place I easily never see in my own day to day life. Thanks for bringing this info into the light for all to see. I especially loved your closing notes ♥️

Excellent documentary explaining this rapidly increasing crisis.

So sad! This is a worldwide problem indeed and yes we all need to help out our homeless brothers and sisters no matter where they are! ❤

Excellent video. Thanks for creating it. Important issue.

Hi Derrick. I just found this channel. DEFINITELY will be diving into your work. There are too many shitheads in this world. The divide is REAL AF

Amazing work that you do derrrick!

We would love to team together with you when you’re aiding these people . We advocate for Mental Health. Keep up the good work.

Sadly new brunswick is very very quickly becoming ontario.drug users will soon far out number the clean. All of the reasons we moved here are no longer the case after only 3 years.

Love your videos.

There is no easy answer, this reminds me of Grant Avenue in Hamilton late 70's to early 80's, Drug abuse is common in the Construction trades, at least in Ontario, lost many friends and acquaintences to Fentynal, opiods but alcohol is the worst. Either from chronic use or acute events. Saving yourself is the first and biggest step, thanks for such a thought provoking video, sobering to say the least. Peace.