Archive

World Suicide Prevention Day raises awareness

September 8, 2016   ·   0 Comments

With World Suicide Prevention Day being recognized globally this Saturday, September 10, many organizations across Canada are stepping up to bring awareness to the issue.

Although conversations around suicide and mental health have increased dramatically over the years, especially with the help of nationwide campaigns such as Bell Let’s Talk, there is still a long way to go.

Suicideprevention.ca suggests that on average, 11 people will end their lives by suicide each day, with approximately 210 more Canadians attempting to end their lives by suicide. For each person who dies from suicide, at least 7-10 bereaved ‘Survivors’ are profoundly affected, meaning on a daily average 77-110 more people will be affected by the suicide of a loved one.

Statistically, suicide is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada, with rates continuously increasing over the past 60 years.

According to several mental health and suicide prevention organizations, 90 percent of people who commit suicide have a mental or addictive disorder.

On the Statistics Canada website, the organization breaks down this statement further: “Depression is the most common illness among those who die from suicide, with approximately 60 percent suffering from this condition. No single determinant, including mental illness, is enough on its own to cause a suicide. Rather, suicide typically results from the interaction of many factors, for example: mental illness, marital breakdown, financial hardship, deteriorating physical health, a major loss or lack of social support.”

Locally, the Suicide Awareness Council of Wellington-Dufferin (SACWD) has used the week leading up to World Suicide Prevention Day to run a campaign called Sharing Hope and Tulips Across Wellington and Dufferin Counties, as part of their ongoing mission to help reduce suicide and its impact on the local communities.

“In the spring after hardship and darkness, these bulbs of hope will burst forth through the hard earth, growing into beautiful flowers,” reads the campaign slogan. Throughout the week, SACWD has partnered with several organizations, including Dufferin Child and Family Services for this campaign, seeing 2000 packages of orange tulip bulbs, 2000 suicide awareness ribbons, and resource cars, to over 50 locations across the Counties.

“Join Dufferin Child and Family Services, along with the Suicide Awareness Council of Wellington Dufferin in building HOPE by picking up your free tulip bulb package and awareness ribbon at the DCAFS office,” said Jacqueline Moore, Coordinator Volunteers and Community Awareness at DCAFS.

She added that the bulbs of Hope will be planted in the gardens of DCAFS in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day. The packages can be picked up for free at DCAFs office at 655 Riddell Road.

Studies have revealed that while females are three to four times more likely to attempt suicide, males are three times as likely to die by suicide. Suicideprevention.ca identifies that a potential reason for these differences is the methods used for suicide.

“This discrepancy may be due to the fact that females tend to use less immediately lethal methods,” said the site.

On Tuesday morning, the Movember Foundation, in partnership with Movember Canada, announced they are aiming to use the day and its global reach to help bring more attention to male suicide.

According to their press release, the rate amongst men worldwide is alarmingly high, with one man committing suicide every minute per day. In Canada, an estimated seven men die each day as a result of suicide, making this an unspoken action demanding immediate action.

The Movember Foundation will be launching a video on Saturday called ‘Suicide Notes Talk Too Late’ to address these concerns.

“We wanted to create a powerful piece of content that would ignite important conversation abut suicide, the complex issues that surround it, and what everyone can do to address it,” said Owen Sharp, CEO of the Movember Foundation. “Conversations that we hope will save lives and prevent the far-reaching and painful consquences for the families, friends, and communities of the men tragically lost every day. It’s an uncomfortable conversation, but it’s one that needs to be had.”

‘Suicide Notes Talk Too Late’ features men who share their personal experiences with suicide, conveying a powerful yet simple message, urging men to talk when things get tough.

The Movember Foundation added in their press release that too many men try to ‘tough it out’ by keeping their feelings to themselves and struggling through their issues alone.

“It’s time to break this silence and recognize that a key to overcoming even the biggest problems is for men to talk more,” said Mr. Sharp. “Not about trivial stuff, but about the significant changes and challenges going on in their lives – things like difficulties with work or finances, the breakdown of a relationship, overwhelming family responsibilities, or a significant setback. These things happen regularly, and for some, have the potential to derail or be more overwhelming than they’d imagined.”

The foundation hopes people will help boost the global conversation this year by sharing the video on World Suicide Prevention Day through their social networks and channels.

“Without forcing conversation around the issue of suicide, and showing a way that can help, the issue will remain an unspoken crisis,” wrote Movember Foundation in their press release.

The campaign forms part of the foundation’s suicide prevention strategic approach – encouraging men to reach out, particularly during times of change and when things get tough, and to take action sooner rather than later to reduce the risk of suicide.

The video can be viewed and shared at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDYAgurah8g&feature=youtu.be .

To find out about more World Suicide Prevention Day events occurring near you, visit suicideprevention.ca/wspd and use their event locator.

Dufferin Child and Family Services is a multi-service agency providing child and youth mental health, child protection and developmental support services. The Child and Youth Mental Health team provides a Talk-In Clinic on Tuesdays from 1 to 8 p.m. (last appointment at 7 p.m.). For more information about DCAFS services visit www.dcafs.on.ca or call 519-941-1530

For more information on The Suicide Awareness Council of Wellington Dufferin visit www.sacwd.ca or on Facebook and Twitter.

Readers Comments (0)