World Suicide Prevention Day

Being able to come together and reach out to each other is very important…It can save lives. People who survive suicidal thinking or behaviours often describe the pain that they have experienced as filled with hopelessness and despair. They also talk about wanting that pain to end, but not necessarily to die. That pain may be caused by a treatable mental illness, stressful life events, or difficulties with coping skills.

There is help for these challenges and people need to be aware that things can change. People often fear intervening, or of saying the wrong thing. Taking a moment to reach out to someone – a close family member, a friend, or even a stranger – can change the course of their life. Because talking about suicide is difficult, listening with a non-judgmental ear can help lessen feelings of isolation and remind the person that others care about them. The hopelessness and despair that lead to thoughts of suicide can be incredibly isolating. Compassion and empathy can help turn things around. A genuine conversation can make all the difference.

If you are worried about someone, it’s best to start by asking general questions about their wellbeing. Bringing up the conversation can be difficult, try starting with something like: “I know you’ve been going through a lot lately. I want you to know I’m concerned about you.” If the response is worrisome, you can ask: “are you feeling safe?” and “do you think about suicide?”. It is a myth that asking or talking about suicide will put the idea in someone’s head. When someone is struggling, check in with them regularly. See how they are doing and listen supportively to what they have to say. Remember that you don’t have to have all the answers but there is help available.

CMHA HKPR joins the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) in inviting all individuals and communities to recognize and support World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) on September 10 2021.

In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day, the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) will be hosting a virtual ONLINE EVENT on Friday, September 10, 2020 at 2:00 PM EST, in English with French subtitles, on this year’s theme of “Creating Hope Through Action”.

The event will feature presentations by a group of panelists who will share their unique experiences of suicide-related behaviours and actions and what was and wasn’t supportive to them during this time.  Following the presentations, there will be a live Q & A. At the end of the session, participants will be encouraged to participate later that evening in a “Candle Vigil”, by placing a lit candle in their window to “Light a Flame of Hope” at 8:00 pm in their respective time zones.

To register for this virtual event, please click here!

CMHA HKPR offers crisis support for those who need help immediately. Four County Crisis is available at no-cost, 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-866-995-9933 or 705-745-6484.

To help create a suicide -safer community, we offer various training opportunities such as Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Mental Health First Aid and safeTALK. For more information about these courses, contact Jack Veitch, Manager of Community Engagement and Education at jveitch@cmhahkpr.ca

(2021). Retrieved 28 August 2021, from https://suicideprevention.ca/resources/Documents/WSPD%202021%20Toolkit%20FINAL%20v3.pdf