With the arrival of World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 10, some will find an opportunity to grieve, and others to raise awareness.
“While everyone has been affected by the stresses brought on over the past two years or more, it’s clear that not everyone is impacted equally,” said Nitika Rewari, director of prevention and promotion initiatives for The Mental Health Commission of Canada.
The commission looked at a survey of more than 13,000 Canadians in a recent report, and found that youth and ethno-racialized groups, and those who are unemployed, have faced the most adverse mental-health effects over the pandemic.
Strikingly, the study found one in three people with a history of substance abuse reported suicidal ideation over the pandemic, Rewari said.
Reducing stigma is key to ensuring people can access services without judgment, and in turn find those services useful. However, stigma is compounded for those who have a history of substance use and mental illness.
“When you think about that intersection between people with problematic substance use and suicidal ideation, you can imagine the stigma they are experiencing.”
For those who are grieving, Rewari said it can be an important occasion to connect with loved ones and reach out to support systems.
The City of St. Albert will host its annual vigil the day before World Suicide Prevention Day. The event will take place at the Celebration Gardens at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9.
Jen Becker, the city’s community development co-ordinator, said many people dealing with the effects of suicide often feel alone.
“This is an event where we’re showing people you don’t have to deal with it alone, and that it’s okay to talk about it,” Becker said. “It’s OK to come together as a community and reduce the stigma.”
Becker said the event will be similar to those in the past, running a half hour in length and bringing family members and friends together. St. Albert’s poet Laureate, Lauren Seal, will also present a poem, and there will be live piano music.
“There’s something really special about lighting the candles and being there together,” Becker said.
Linda Knoblauch, the city’s manager of community connections, said the city is also looking to offer suicide prevention courses in the coming months.
“We’ve always offered mental-health education, including mental-health first aid, and suicide prevention courses,” Knoblauch said, noting FCSS is looking to amp up its efforts as “some of our demographics we know have struggled through COVID and might benefit from some information.”
The city is looking to offer a two-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) course where participants are taught how to support someone having thoughts of suicide and build safety plans, as well as a shorter 3.5-hour class.
Knoblauch said questions the shorter class will help address include: “How do I know when somebody might be having thoughts of suicide? How do I ask that question?"
Knoblauch said the city is hoping to run the courses for October, but has not yet cemented the dates.
Rewari said training on suicide prevention is “certainly worthwhile for people to take.”
“It can help someone better understand who might be in need and who might be in crisis,” Rewari said, emphasizing that courses such as ASIST are especially important, because they are evidence based.
Resources
The following numbers are available 24/7:
• Crisis Line: 1-800-482-4357
• Addiction Helpline: 1-866-332-2322
• Family Violence Info Line: 780-310-1818
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
• Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642
• 211: (or visit www.ab.211.ca for free support to connect you to a variety of community resources in your area)
• Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 or crisisservicescanada.ca
• Please note: If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911St. Albert Family and Community Support Services: 780-418-6000 (during regular business hours)
Support services for adults are available through the St. Albert Food Bank and Community Village (780-459-0599 or stalbertfoodbankandcommunityvillage.com) and seniors can contact the St. Albert Seniors Association at 780-459-0433 (stalbertseniors.ca) also during regular business hours.
