Photo Credit: EverythingGP stock photo.

By Shane Clausing

World suicide prevention day

September 10 marks World Suicide Prevention Day

Sep 10, 2020 | 5:00 AM

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, which, since being founded in 2003, is now observed in 50 countries around the world.

The WHO (World Health Organization) says the purpose of the day is to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented.

According to Statistics Canada from data posted in 2019, 11 people in this country die each day from suicide, resulting in 4,000 deaths per year.

One in every three deaths by suicide is among people aged between 45 and 59. Youth and young adults from 15 to 34 are ranked second. Men’s suicide rates are also three times higher compared to women.

Tammy Monro is a Resource Coordinator at the Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention in Grande Prairie, she spoke about how important this day is to raise awareness and show people that there is help out there.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

“We try our best to be as public as we can for the month of September, obviously it can be hard for a lot of people if they’ve experienced a loss, but it is an important day to try and remind people that we need to work together to help prevent suicide in the community.”

Monro adds that the Resource Centre is a great place for people who need help and want to figure out how to deal with their mental health.

“We like to focus on offering workshops such as the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and Mental Health First Aid, so that people can recognize the signs of suicide and intervene if they need to. And as well as giving out resources so everybody knows where to get help or what to do if they suspect somebody might be going through a suicide or mental health crisis.”

Monro says the centre has seen an increase in people looking for resources to help deal with their mental health because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She mentioned that the centre has added more people using online tools and resources, as well as taken a bigger effort in teaching people Psychological First Aid.

Psychological First Aid is a free two-hour resource that is used by many people following a natural disaster, or in this case a pandemic.

Those who are interested in learning more about the types of programs offered by the Resource Centre for Suicide Prevention in Grande Prairie can do so by heading to their website.

A list of online tools and websites you can use are also listed below:

• Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868
• Canada Suicide Prevention Service 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645
• Hope for Wellness Help Line 1-855-242-3310
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line 1-877-303-2642