Unlock the Silence was created in memory of Justin Francis Bowers — a son, brother, grandson, friend, and young man whose life touched the people around him in ways that are still felt today.
A light about him
Justin was born on October 23, 2002. From the time he was a young child, there was something special about him. Justin was deeply in touch with the emotions of the people around him. He could walk into a room and seemingly understand what others were feeling without anyone having to say a word. He possessed a remarkable sense of empathy and an instinctive awareness of when someone was hurting, uncomfortable, or being treated unfairly.
As a little boy, Justin loved Thomas the Tank Engine and treasured the time he spent with his family. Some of his happiest memories were made in the ordinary moments — sitting around playing games and spending hours together with his grandmother Leona, his sister Melanie, and his brother Nathan.
During his elementary school years, Justin was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, at a time when the diagnosis Asperger's was commonly used. His differences were part of who he was, but they never defined the entirety of the young man he became.
Justin had a light about him.
A defender of the underdog
He was a defender of the underdog from a very early age. He could not stand to see someone bullied or treated unfairly. He believed rules should apply to everyone and that people should be treated with fairness and kindness. At times, Justin held so tightly to what he believed was right that he placed himself at a disadvantage.
Unfortunately, the very qualities that made Justin compassionate and principled could also make him a target.
As he grew older, bullying became an increasingly painful part of his experience, particularly during his high school years. Justin knew what it felt like to be different. He knew what it felt like to struggle to fit into a world that did not always understand him. And he knew what it felt like to be singled out when all he wanted was for people to be treated fairly.
Places where he could be himself
Yet Justin continued to find places where he could be himself.
He loved animals and seemed to have a natural connection with them. His golden retriever, Holly, was an important part of his life, as was his pet turtle. Justin's kindness extended beyond people; he had a special way with animals and genuinely cared for them.
In high school, Justin discovered interests and talents that gave him opportunities to connect with others. He became involved in Future Business Leaders of America, where he earned several awards at conferences. He also became involved in theater, where he enjoyed building sets and working as a stagehand.
Justin loved creating things.
He also developed an interest in fireworks and pyrotechnics. He and his father spent time designing and building different displays and even competed with one another. What might have seemed like a simple hobby became something much more meaningful: another place where a father and son could spend time together, share an interest, and make memories.
Justin also found friendship and community through Dungeons & Dragons, playing with friends at Gnome Games. These were the kinds of places where Justin could pursue the things that interested him, use his imagination, build friendships, and simply be Justin.
The silence
But beneath the interests, talents, humor, empathy, and love that made Justin who he was, there were struggles that those around him could not fully see or could not prevent.
On December 26, 2020, at 18 years old, Justin died by suicide. His family and friends were devastated.
The loss of a young person leaves a particular kind of silence. There are questions that cannot be answered, conversations that can never happen, and an emptiness that does not simply disappear with time. For those who loved Justin, his absence is still deeply felt.
But Justin's story is still being written.
Why we unlock the silence
Unlock the Silence was created because Justin's life mattered. Because his empathy mattered, his kindness mattered, his insistence on fairness mattered, his struggles mattered, and his experiences with bullying mattered — and because the young people who are facing their own struggles matter.
The purpose of Unlock the Silence is to honor Justin by turning the pain of his loss into something that can help others.
We believe young people need to learn about mental health before they reach a crisis. They need to know that struggling does not make them weak, different, or alone. They need to recognize warning signs in themselves and in their friends. They need to understand how to ask for help — and just as importantly, they need to know how to respond when someone else reaches out.
We also believe mental health education must begin early. Our goal is to provide age-appropriate education and awareness about mental health, emotional well-being, bullying, crisis recognition, and suicide prevention. We want young people to have the language and knowledge to talk about what they are experiencing rather than feeling that they have to hide it.
We want to unlock the silence before silence becomes tragedy.
Unlock the Silence also seeks to provide teens and families with access to information, education, and mental health resources for those navigating difficult situations. We want to help young people understand that asking for help is an act of courage — not a failure.
And we want to challenge the culture of bullying and exclusion that can make already difficult struggles even harder.
Justin spent his life standing up for people he believed were being treated unfairly. He defended those who were being bullied. He cared deeply about people who were hurting. In creating Unlock the Silence, we hope to continue that part of Justin's work.
We cannot change what happened to Justin. We cannot go back and give him the words, resources, understanding, or support that might have changed the course of his story.