Buddy Check For Jesse

Buddy Check for Jesse is a grassroots Canadian charity, founded by Dr. Stu Gershman in memory of his son, Jesse Short-Gershman, who tragically died by suicide on October 29, 2014.

Our primary mission is to destigmatize discussions about mental health, promote compassion and connection, and inspire young people to reach out and support (or perform a "buddy check" with) their teammates, friends, and family members. We believe in harnessing the influence of coaches and the power of sports to achieve this goal. Our youth have invaluable insights to offer, and it is our duty to equip them with the necessary tools to achieve this mission.

The "Buddy Check Talks" often serve as a starting point for coaches to initiate conversations about mental health with their young athletes. It's important to emphasize that coaches do not need a background in mental health; they just need to be open to these discussions.

We have adopted the color green (symbolizing mental health) to amplify the impact of our message, and our expanding presence on social media enables us to further advance our mission.

Buddy Check for Jesse is proud to be the target charity for the 2026 Victoria Donut Mile. Funds raised  will enable us to continue providing support to youth coaches, leaders, and players in all sports, equipping them with the resources and tools they need to destigmatize mental health conversations and positively shape their future.