Help us raise money

Our friends and family members need us to talk, to listen and to show them that yes, we care, there is help and there is hope.  They need us to be aware and to watch for signs. We can help if we just stop being afraid/ashamed of the word “suicide”.

I now know that suicide prevention needs to be a priority for all of us.    

From September 21st to 28th, 2024, join me on a journey from darkness into light to remember all our loved ones lost to suicide and raise awareness for suicide prevention.

It is partly a virtual event and I will participate virtually with team House Greer by walking to raise money in memory of my handsome and wonderful son Andrew and all of our loved ones lost. 

The Centre for Suicide Prevention is an education centre, a centre of excellence, based in Calgary, Alberta. They  are a branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. They are educators. For 40 years, they have been equipping Canadians with the information, knowledge and skills necessary to respond to people considering suicide. They educate online, in print, and interactively. This is the 5^th annual Run for Life; the first was an in-person event in September 2018. They are based in Calgary, Alberta, but participants have joined in from every province in Canada and they have had international participants from Australia, Germany and the US. Since 2018, nearly $200,000 has been raised for suicide prevention. Talking about suicide does not cause people to think about killing themselves; it reduces the risk of suicide attempts for those who already have suicidal thoughts. Anyone can learn to how to help someone considering suicide. 

Stigma remains the greatest barrier 

Before you can reach out, you have to examine your own attitude toward suicide. Stigma remains the greatest barrier to suicide prevention, and if you believe that suicide can’t be prevented, then you won’t be able to help someone considering suicide. 

Ask yourself: 

Do you believe suicide can be prevented? 

Do you think that, with adequate knowledge and active listening skills, you could help someone considering suicide?

Do you think that anyone could theoretically get to the point of considering suicide or do you think that only people with certain characteristics and traits would consider suicide? 

If you answered “no” to any of the above questions, you may want to learn more about suicide and suicide prevention.

 Suicide can be prevented

A person who is at the point of suicidal crisis has typically lost all hope and sees no other alternative to their deep, psychological pain than to end their life. When someone reaches out to the person thinking about suicide, they see that people do care about them, and that their life does matter. Studies have found that 90% of people who were in the process of acting on their plan to die by suicide but were stopped before attempting – either by a passerby, security staff, or police – did not go on to attempt suicide again. People who think about suicide are desperate for human connection. One man who died by suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco wrote in his suicide note: “If one person smiles at me, I will not jump”.

People who are at risk for suicide may: show a sudden change in mood or behaviour show a sense of hopelessness and helplessness express the wish to die or end their life increase substance use withdraw from people and activities that they previously enjoyed experience changes in sleeping patterns have a decreased appetite give away prized possessions or make preparations for their death (for example, creating a will).

People at a higher risk of suicide include those who: have a serious mental health and/or addiction problem have had a recent major loss (for example, the death of a loved one or a job loss)have a family history of suicide have made previous suicide attempts have a serious physical illness have an impulsive personality lack support from family or friends have access to weapons, medications or other lethal means of suicide.

How can I help someone who is at risk for suicide?

Listen to them and take them seriously. Don’t judge or minimize their feelings. Be positive and hopeful, and remember that suicide can be prevented. Ask them if they are having thoughts of suicide. Don’t be afraid that you will put the idea in their head. It may be a relief for them to talk about it. Ask if they have a plan. Depending on their answer you may want to limit their access to lethal means, such as medication, knives or firearms. Ask them to rate their suicidal feelings on a scale of one to 10. Regularly ask them to tell you where they are on the scale, so you can assess if things are getting worse. Let them know help is available and that the cause of their suicidal thoughts can be successfully treated. Encourage them to talk about how they are feeling. Encourage them to seek help from a doctor or mental health provider, and offer to help with this if they would like. Make a safety plan with them. Who will they call if their feelings get stronger? Who can stay with them to keep them safe? Make a list of phone numbers of people and services they can call if they feel unsafe. Avoid leaving the person alone if they are in crisis. Seek support for yourself. It is important that you don’t carry this burden alone.

What if someone I know shows warning signs for suicide?

Take them to the nearest hospital emergency department, if you can do so safely. If the person will not go to the hospital or you're unsure if this is the right thing to do, get help from a health care provider as quickly as possible. You can call the person’s health care team or a crisis line.   Call the Canadian crisis line at 1-833-456-4566. If your loved one is attempting or about to attempt suicide, and you are not at risk, do not leave them alone and call 911. 

Keep yourself safe.

If someone I know is having thoughts of suicide, what can I do to help?

If the person considering suicide is in immediate crisis, the emergency room is an appropriate level of care. Alternatively, you can call the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8, which is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

You are not alone! #RunforLife2024 @cspyyc To learn more about suicide prevention, visit Centre for Suicide Prevention at www.suicideinfo.ca.