CMHA joins the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) in inviting all individuals and communities to find a way to recognize and support World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) on September 10th. It can be as simple as sending a message to those who are in despair, those who are grieving, and those who are supporting someone who is struggling with life’s challenges. By spreading the word that hope, help and healing are possible, we can work together to prevent suicide.
CASP estimates that each day in Canada, 10 people end their life and 200 make a suicide attempt. Suicide occurs across all age, economic, social, and ethnic boundaries.
CMHA Thunder Bay offers ASIST workshop that emphasizes suicide first-aid. It provides information on how to help a person at risk to stay safe and seek further help. During this two-day workshop you will learn how to:
- Recognize invitations for help
- Reach out and offer support
- Review the risk of suicide
- Apply a suicide intervention model
- Link people with community resources
We also offer a number of resources available on our website at https://thunderbay.cmha.ca/documents/preventing-suicide/ about suicide prevention. Or if you or someone, you know is feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, helpless, desperate, and alone, please call our Crisis Response 24/7 phone line at:
Thunder Bay: 807-346-8282
District / Toll-Free: 1-888-269-3100
Kenora Rainy River District: 1-866-888-8988
Talking about suicide can provide relief, and being a listener is the best intervention anyone can give. Here are a few ways you can help:
- Take all threats or attempts seriously.
- Be aware and learn warning signs of suicide.
- Be direct and ask if the person is thinking of suicide. If the answer is yes, ask if the person has a plan and what the timeline is.
- Be non-judgmental and empathetic.
- Do not minimize the feelings expressed by the person.
- Do not be sworn to secrecy…seek out the support of appropriate professionals.
- Ask if there is anything you can do.
For more information or to learn more about the suicide prevention or positive mental health, visit CASP or contact CMHA Thunder Bay at 807-346-8282.