CORNWALL & SDG, Ontario – World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is held every year on September 10 to help raise awareness towards preventing suicide.
It is estimated that 11 people end their life each day in Canada and 210 make a suicide attempt. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 800,000 people die of suicide each year and up to 20 million attempts may be made.
“Whether you’re a child, a parent, a friend, a colleague or a neighbour, you can make a difference to save someone’s life,” read an Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) press release.
The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Champlain East is offering SafeTALK trainings, which are sponsored by CMHA Champlain East, United Way PR, United Way SDG and Champlain East Suicide Prevention Coalition. To register and find out more, click here.
“The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Champlain East is a partnership made up of 26 organizations from the City of Cornwall, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and Akwesasne. A list of the participating organizations can be found at www.reachoutnow.ca,” read an EOHU release.
Additionally, local school boards are speaking out today, highlighting resources to students and staff who may need them.
“One of the best things to do as a young person is to tell a trusted adult at school or at home who can help arrange to get supports for you,” explained Dr. David Armstrong, Chief Psychologist with the UCDSB, in a press release. “We want to normalize and destigmatize mental health and seeking supports…whether you’re in a crisis or if that crisis has past and you are just feeling blah, down, anxious, or nervous there are supports that can help within our community partners in our schools.”
Armstrong added that students who are struggling at school or at home can contact the Kids Help Phone by text, online chat or by calling the 1-800-668-6868 and the Student Well-Being portion of the UCDSB website offers a list of community resources.
The Canadian Mental Health Association can be reached at 613-933-5845 or 1-800-493-8271. A Mental Health Crisis Line includes 1-866-996-0991.
To view a list of support group and centre options across the region, visit the City’s website here and scroll down to the Mental Health section.
