'The pattern needs to stop,' stepsister of Woodstock teen suicide victim says

Woodstock, Ont., teen Jada Downing lost her 17-year-old stepsister to suicide last month. Today,she will takepart in a walkout of students from five high schools in hopes she can dissuade others from making the same choice.

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"It kindafelt like I was being stabbed in the heart a thousand times," said Downing about the moment she heard ofKristiWilkinson'sdeath on May 28.

"I do believe that if she had reached out to someone, someone would have been able to help her."

Up to 300 other highschool students are expected to take partin the walkout in thesouthwestern Ontario city of 37,000 where Kristi and four otheryoung took their livesthis year. Students hope to raise awareness about what they say has been a failure for school boards to take action to address the suicide crisis.

Jada said she had no idea her stepsister was in such a serious state of distress, and knows other teens are facing similar struggles.

"Even the day of, she was happy, she was smiling," Jadasaid in an interview withCBC's News Network on Tuesdaymorning.

"Kristi was my best friend and I feel like this is something I have to do," she said about taking part in the walkout, where she also plans to share her family's story. "I want people to feel like they are worthy because Kristi was, but obviously didn't think she was. The pattern needs to stop."