Light a candle for World Suicide Prevention Day

The Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge Branch (C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R.), Telecare and Hospice Services would like to invite the media and members of our community to recognize Thursday September 10th, 2020 as World Suicide Prevention Day.

Annually the C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. partners with community organizations Telecare Distress Centre and Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes’ Hospice Services to host candlelight vigils in Peterborough and Lindsay. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day will not include a vigil gathering. Instead, we are asking all those who have been affected by suicide to light a candle to place in their window on Sept. 10, honouring those who have died by suicide.

Facts about suicide:

• Every year, 160 million people worldwide contemplate suicide and, tragically, 800,000 of them die by suicide.
• Approximately 4,000 Canadians die by suicide every year
• In 2019, 2.5% of Canadians reported having had suicidal thoughts within the previous year. In comparison, in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic in May, this survey found that 1 in 20 Canadians (6%) had recently experienced thoughts or feelings of suicide as a result of the pandemic, with a more glaring warning sign pointing to certain groups.
• Suicide prevention education is available for all members of our community aged 15 and older, including safeTALK (Suicide Alertness for Everyone) and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
• Crisis support is available 24 hours a day through Four County Crisis toll-free at 1-866-995-9933

For more information, contact Jack Veitch, Manager of Community Engagement and Education, C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R., at jveitch@cmhahkpr.ca or 705-340-3586.