HILLSBORO COUNTY, FLORIDA — 16-year-old Jacob Cumis had a lot to live for.
He was a talented photographer, volleyball player, baker, loved to travel and even knew how to fly an airplane. But it is his positive spirit that is contagious.
“He was so funny. He wanted to make everyone laugh. He was the star of the party,” explained Katherine Arano, Jacob’s mother.
She added that Jacob loved to dance, had a great sense of fashion, and had a smile that would brighten up any room.
But deep down, he also struggled with mental illness. Catherine told ABC Action News that Jacob was diagnosed with severe depression with a suicidal ideology several years ago.
“I think it was a cry for help. He was acting Baker. He told one of the school counselors that he wanted to kill himself. That was the beginning,” Arano said.
At that time, the family immediately sought all forms of mental health support, but Jacob continued to struggle.
“We tried to help him as much as we could. He was seeing a therapist. He was going to RODBT classes. He had two psychiatrists,” Alano said. I will explain. She adds: But i am not happy. i don’t know why I don’t know why I’m sad And he just kept saying that. ”
Jacob’s father, Jeff Kamis, says he felt helpless at times knowing there was no immediate cure for this often invisible disease.
“You can’t put a band-aid on it. You can’t hug it, you can’t kiss it, you can’t give it love. The terrifying thing about this disease is that there is no easy cure. Medication can cure mental illness and depression.” You can’t cure the disease,” Khamis said.
But Kamis says Jacob continues to fight hard to overcome the darkness of his depression.
“He didn’t let his illness define who he was. “I mean, he was sick. So he did everything you could do. And I’ll always be proud that he’s a fighter,” Kamis explained.
Still, after all these efforts, his parents felt that Jacob could no longer handle the pain in his heart and took his own life. I feel some relief knowing that I no longer feel pain.
“I am sad. Telling me,” said Arano.
To keep Jacob’s legacy alive, Alano and Camis established the “Jacob Camis Memorial Fund” at Hillel Academy.
“I’m sure he wanted to do something to help others because that was part of it. I wanted to help,” Kamis said.
After Jacob’s shocking death, Hillel’s head, Alison Oakes, realizes she needs to use Jacob’s funds to start a mental health initiative.
The goal is to provide free education classes to anyone in the community about depression and suicidal awareness.
“I wanted to use it to engrave something in Jacob’s memory so he can leave a legacy here and help children, teenagers and adults manage and process their mental health,” Oakes said. said.
The first free educational seminar starts this weekend at Hillel Academy. Oakes hopes more monthly or bimonthly programs will continue to spread awareness about mental illness. Jacob’s parents believe that helping others is exactly what Jacob wanted. increase.
“He was a great gift. He was such a great gift to everyone he met, and I miss him every second,” Arano said.
Kamis adds: And he knows we will and he knows he always does what he thinks is right. In every decision I make in life, I always think about what Jacob told me to do. ”
A free 3-day educational event, “Lifting the Cloud: Focusing on Teenage Mental Health.”
Held at Hillel Academy on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.
This includes several workshops aimed at parents, educators, and suicide survivors. It will also include screenings of another teenage suicide documentary, Ezra: May His Memory Be a Blessing.
You can check the details and register for both Click here for events.
