September 10th World Suicide Prevention Day. Join CMHA to reduce risk.

Sep 8, 2023

September 10^th is World Suicide Prevention Day.

It is also a day of resolve – a call to action for the whole world to join together and take action to prevent suicide.

In Canada alone around 4,500 individuals a year lose their lives to suicide.

In fact, suicide is the first health-related leading cause of death for both men and women from adolescence to adulthood.

The loss of a life to suicide affects families, communities, and schools. It is estimated that for each suicide loss, around 15 to 30 people are deeply affected.

But it is possible to prevent suicide.

At CMHA Thunder Bay we provide services that work towards the prevention of suicide by offering monthly sessions on Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. 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

To register for our September or October sessions, please visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/asist-applied-suicide-intervention-skills-training-2023-dates-tickets-18101303486?ref=ebtn

Crisis Response offers a 24/7 mental health phone line for the entire Northwestern Ontario Region. Anyone residing from Kenora east to Wawa can access the regional crisis phone line 24/7. Trained staff are available to respond to calls or texts to listen, provide support and assist in finding solutions and offering resources to all incoming calls with their primary focus on assessment and mitigation of risk.  This component of the service gathers information, completes telephone assessments, screens, triages, and provides callers with relevant information, assistance or direction in order to pursue crisis resolution.

Eligibility: All Ages
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year
Contact:  807-346-8282 | District/Toll Free: 1-866-888-8988    

On this World Suicide Prevention Day, you can take action by:

• Joining the CMHA Thunder Bay team at the Take it in Strides Fun Run/Walk at Boulevard
• Sharing information about World Suicide Prevention Day on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• Reaching out to Talk Suicide Canada if you or someone you know is in crisis.
• Signing up for suicide prevention training. [Include branch resource or become a guardian through the Guardian Network if applicable]
• Reading reports from the Ontario Youth Suicide Prevention and Life Promotion Collaborative to learn more about School Based Suicide Prevention and Postvention Across Settings and Sectors.
• Understanding strategies which can help reduce the risk of suicide and suicidal ideation, such as:
• Seeking treatment, care, and support for mental health concerns – and building a good relationship with a doctor or other health professionals.
• Staying connected with a care team or community-based program to help manage stress and monitor for thoughts of suicide.
• Building social support networks, such as family, friends, a peer support or support group, or connections with a cultural or faith community.
• Learning good coping skills to deal with problem and trusting in coping abilities.

For World Suicide Prevention Day join CMHA Thunder Bay and take action to support awareness, understanding, and prevention.