Make sure you click on the “Blog” button at the top for newly published stories about our journey. Written by Mindy (Jack’s mom).
Donations are greatly appreciated and will be used to support and honor Jack’s legacy of helping others. Donations can now be made through the link above or through Venmo: @Mindy-Mccabe-3
Upcoming Workshop: Register at www.growmmw.com
Welcome to my website, “Inspired by Jack”, intended to bring more understanding, education and awareness to mental health and addiction. The more attention brought to these diseases, perhaps the more compassion, resources and support can be found. I hope to bring more awareness that mental health and addiction are not choices but are challenging diseases that can be very complicated, personal and isolating. They come with real trauma and judgement. It is my hope that this website can provide an honest look at the struggles a person faces when mental health struggles leads to addiction.
It is important to note that everyone’s circumstances are unique and their story their own.
Throughout Jack’s journey we talked to and visited numerous professionals, hospitals and programs. We learned that it is not only the neighbor who doesn’t understand the struggle, it is often times the professionals/people in positions to help that turn away. We need to do better.
Jack and I always believed in being kind to others and that should be at minimum the respect given to anyone whether they are struggling or not.
There is so much more awareness, understanding and acceptance to these illnesses that needs to happen. The diseases of mental health and addiction are cruel and they are not easy to navigate. As Jack’s mother and biggest advocate it is only his story that I know personally and lived simultaneously as his struggles with anxiety and addiction unfolded. I hope to share Jack’s story and my own and bring an appreciation to the reality that there is so much more to a person struggling than what you may think. Listen, learn, show kindness and empathy and you will be surprised to learn how much more work needs to be done to help those in need.
Never give up hope and always be kind.
Mindy Goff McCabe
About Jack:
Jack was the kindest, funniest, smartest young man. He was a loving son, a caring brother and a loyal friend. He loved the outdoors, writing, listening to and making music, watching movies and YouTube videos. He was passionate about helping others and often put their needs before his own. He fought through anxiety, depression, trauma and health issues most of his life. He sought help in many places before, during, with and after COVID. It was not an easy journey. He was not perfect in all the choices he made. In reality, are any of us? I know he worked hard to be sober when addiction took it’s grip. One day at a time.
Unexpectedly, Jack passed away on 9/9/23 at the age of 22. The question everyone wants answered is “what was his cause of death?”. There is the cause of death provided by the Franklin County Coroners office and then there are my own suspicisons that led to his death. The coroners report states Jack’s cause of death to be “Clinicopathologic sequale of combined acute fentanyl, cocaine and benzodiazepine intoxication”.
There was so much more to Jack than being a statistic of another person dying from a drug overdose.
Each and every person that has died from an overdose had a story to tell and a life to live.
So many lives are being cut short by a synthetic opioid drug named “Fentanyl”that is infiltrating every corner of our country and world. It is INTENTIONALLY being put in recreational drugs leading to a very UNINTENTIONAL consequence: DEATH.
The thousands of lives lost to this drug are so much more than a fentanyl poisoning statistic. They were loved.
Jack was loved.
Resources:
Mental Health Services:
Mental Health of America - https://mhaohio.org/
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Call or Text 988 24/7
SAMHSA’s National Helpline - 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Prevention Action Alliance - preventionactionalliance.org
If you or a loved one is in immediate crisis go to the nearest ER hospital for evaluation.
Where to find Naloxone:
Project Dawn Program - https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/project-dawn/project-dawn
harmreductionohio.org
Narcan can now be purchased over the counter at many local pharmacies.
Supporting Children with Anxiety by Mindy Goff McCabe
Provide them with the tools they need to fight/cope with anxiety.
Teach them the language that they can use to describe their feelings.
Listen with an open mind and an open heart.
Rephrase what you think they are telling you to know if that is what they actually mean.
Provide them with ways to release their emotions.
Look at what may not seem like obvious places to look: diet, environment, schedule
Expect the unexpected. Anxiety is not on your schedule or theirs.
Anxiety can often be about control and routine. Allow them a say in their schedule and/or choices.
Anxiety can be about fear. Help talk them through the situation that has them fearful. Make it more manageable for them.
Understand that their expectations and yours may not be the same.
Love them. Let them know that they are loved and they are safe.
Help them to see that you trust others in situations that cause them anxiety.
Praise the positives. Help to build their self esteem, confidence and bravery when they do what is hard for them.
Never shame them for their feelings.
Remain calm when they are feeling anxious.
Anxiety is a real emotion that may set off unpredictable and uncontrollable feelings, fears and behaviors.
YouTube Video/Keynote with Dr. Nicole Labor
https://youtu.be/vYvZTH746yg?si=-xDHV_fCMYzAz8of
This video was helpful to both Jack and myself. It is worth watching.
Additional Resources/Websites…
www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose/index.html - Center for Disease Control Resources/Information
www.youtube.com/@TexasPictures - Documentary series of lost loved ones to Fentanyl poisoning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VitZ2dcZneA - GameChangerUSA “One Pill Can Kill” educational video
https://nida.nih.gov/ - National Institute on Drug Abuse
www.growmmw.com
www.songforcharlie.org
www.happyjacksworld.com
www.betheplace.org
www.thenewdrugtalk.org
Columbus & Franklin County Addiction Plan
Franklin County Coroners Office
Mental Health of America-Ohio “Honoring Jack” story Fall 2024
https://mhaohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Advocate-Fall-2024-Final_3.pdf
