A Fund Dedicated to Suicide Prevention and Lyme Disease Research
We created this fund to honour the memory of our beloved Amélie, who took her own life in September 2022.
Her story is a powerful reminder of how psychological distress can take root when suffering goes unrecognized or without adequate care. At a time when societal anxiety is rising and the demand for mental health support is growing, the Fund backs initiatives designed to strengthen awareness and front-line resources — to better prevent suicide and support those in vulnerable situations.
Amélie's story also speaks to the human toll of a prolonged medical journey without answers. For years, she endured debilitating symptoms that continued to accumulate and intensify, with no clear explanation — until a clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease was finally confirmed, far too late. That prolonged uncertainty left a profound mark on her. In the end, the anxiety it brought on played a major role in her decision to end her suffering, after an exhausting struggle that stretched on for years.
Amélie is far from alone. Lyme disease remains widely underdiagnosed. Experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that the true number of cases could be anywhere from six to twelve times higher than the number of confirmed or probable cases (CDC, 2021).
In Quebec, the capacity, standards and protocols for detecting, treating and following up on Lyme disease remain inadequate. Too many patients spend years wandering through the health system before receiving a diagnosis, often having to seek out resources beyond the province's borders.
It is with these patients in mind, and with a commitment to preventing suicide and advancing Lyme disease research, that this Fund was created. Thanks to the donations received, it supports initiatives that:
• strengthen awareness and front-line support to better prevent suicide and help those experiencing psychological distress;
• provide follow-up and support resources for patients and their families;
• promote the development of research protocols to advance knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.
Amélie was deeply moved by the desire to help others. Her years working in seniors' residences, alongside young people with multiple disabilities at Centre 4 Poches in Boucherville, and among people experiencing homelessness in downtown Montreal all bear witness to this. That legacy of empathy and kindness guides everything the Fund supports — so that others facing situations like hers may find the help they need, and so that distress no longer overcomes hope.
In Amélie's name, thank you for helping to carry forward her legacy of compassion and hope.
For all other types of donations, please reach out to the Foundation of Greater Montreal team by email at philanthropie@fgmtl.org or by phone at (514) 866-0808, ext. 123.