Our Mission
Project L’Chaim is committed to support youth mental health in the Greater Vancouver Area by developing and disseminating behavioral health and suicide prevention education and resources to better equip youth and their families to overcome challenges during adolescence and young adulthood.
Our mission is to disseminate educational resources and training to assist youth across British Columbia in discovering meaning, hope, and resilience. Project L’Chaim, with our parent organization, The Wellness Institute, develops educational materials for parents and resilience-building programs that engage teens in meaningful discussions and provides evidence-based skills to enhance communication, problem-solving and emotion regulation.
In addition, it trains individuals and organizations who provide educational, community-based, and clinical services.
What we offer
Teen discussion groups: We develop and distribute resilience-building curricula to facilitate meaningful discussion groups based on Jewish wisdom.
Parents, educators, and youth leaders: We provide evidence-based training from the world’s leading experts on warning signs recognition, risk assessment, and effective interventions.
Community: We develop partnerships and host awareness events for the purpose of uniting organizations from all sectors in addressing youth mental health.
Educational resources: We publish original resources by leading experts for parents, educators, and youth leaders.
Continuing education for practitioners: Training designed to strengthen clinicians’ competence and confidence in effectively working with suicide risk.
Clinical Advisory Board
Dr. Sandy Penn Whitehouse
is the CEO and co-Founder of Tickit Health. She is a pediatrician and Adolescent Medicine doctor with over 30 years of experience in clinical medicine, hospital systems, healthcare leadership, and digital health.
John Wagner, PhD, R.Psych
is the director of the DBT Centre of Vancouver and a registered psychologist. Dr. Wagner completed a fellowship with the founder of DBT, Dr. Marsha Linehan. In studies, DBT has proven to be the most effective therapy for most people in treating suicidality. Dr. Wagner also brings his practical experience with the behavioral health system in Vancouver.
Anne Andrew, PhD
brings layers of expertise to the board and Project L’Chaim’s activities. Her many years of experience as a parent coach and school principal, her lived experience with depression and suicidality, and her involvement and connection with many local Jewish organizations inform the invaluable perspective she brings to the discussion.
E. David Klonsky, PhD
is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of B.C. His research examines suicide, including the pursuit of parsimonious models of suicide and a better understanding of suicide motivations and warning signs. His recent studies and findings are guiding the field in Canada, the U.S., and beyond.Project Coordinator
Mrs. Matti Feigelstock
Is a certified Youth and Family counselor with a private practice in Richmond BC. She is a co-executive director of a registered charity for expecting and new mothers, Mamatefet Community Society.Already at a young age, Matti was an active volunteer within the Jewish community. She directed outreach programs for youth and kids and dedicated much of her time to help others. She moved all the way from Israel to Vancouver with a strong desire to help the Jewish community grow and flourish.
In the past 18 years, Matti has been running and managing successful social community programs and initiatives. She hosts and welcomes people into her home and teaches Jewish philosophy to women.
Matti graduated from BCIT with a Business Management Certificate and obtained a Counseling certificate from VCCT. This education helped her develop exceptional organizational and communication skills. These skills, together with her innate love for people and an open ear, are being put to good use in her work with Project L’Chaim, where she is organizing and planning inspiring events and working to strategically develop and establish Project L’Chaim as a recognized organization.
Matti currently lives in Richmond and is a wonderful mother to seven beautiful children.
Project L’Chaim is sponsored by the Diamond Foundation in loving memory of Steve Diamond Z”L
