Each year on September 10th , people in over 50 countries around the world connect with each other by officially recognizing World Suicide Prevention Day. World Suicide Prevention Day is a chance to promote understanding about suicide: those impacted by a suicide attempt or loss, family or friends, organizations, professionals, and community members.
At Northern Weldarc Ltd., it is important that all of our workers are safe and healthy—which includes their mental health. Mental health includes the emotional, psychological, and the social well-being of individuals. How we act, feel, and think is all affected by this, and as a result it is how we handle our relationships with others, how we handle stress and address and make appropriate choices. None of our workers are alone, and we have open doors for those workers who need help, always.
No one should feel alone or without support—especially when they need it. Suicide is a complex issue involving numerous factors and should not be attributed to any one cause. Although we are not specialists in this area, we always have an ear for when someone needs it and we are familiar as to where to guide them to ensure that they are getting the right support and
resources. Suicide is not about a moral weakness or a character flaw. People considering suicide feel as though their pain will never end and that suicide is the only way to stop the suffering. And during the time of COVID-19, the numbers are on the rise. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected our physical health, but it has also created significant stressors for our emotional wellbeing. Mental health challenges appear to be on a rise, including mental health conditions such as anxiety, depressing, changing habits, lack of control, increased use of alcohol and/or other drugs, the feelings of being overwhelmed, and increase of stress. Feelings of fear, worry and anxiety are normal; however focusing on negative feelings can make coping even more difficult.
Many factors and circumstances can contribute to someone’s decision to end their life. Factors such as loss, addictions, childhood trauma, or other forms of trauma, depression, serious physical illness, and major life changes can make some people feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. It is important to remember that it isn’t necessarily the nature of the loss or stressor that is as important as the individual’s experience of these things feeling unbearable.
Suicide is currently ranked as the 9th leading cause of death in Canada. Males are three times more likely to die by suicide than females, with higher rates prevailing as a consistent trend. Although men are more likely to die by suicide, females are three times more likely to attempt to end their lives. In addition, women are hospitalized 1.5 times more often than males for suicide related behaviours. This discrepancy may be due to the fact that females tend to use less immediately lethal methods. Based on data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, 14.7% of Canadians have thought about suicide and 3.5% have attempted suicide in their lifetime.
Hope, Help and Healing are 3 areas of focus (Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention)
• They can be understood as the before, during and after experiences of thoughts of suicide, attempts, or death. Everyone has a role and contribution to preventing suicide in one or more of these areas. You don’t have to be an expert. You do need to know how to take care of yourself and help another person get to safety if the need arises.
• Prevention is working toward reducing deaths by suicide; increasing awareness, eliminating stigma, knowing what to do in the event that you or someone you know experiences thoughts or behaviours associated with suicide.
• Intervention includes coping and intervening if you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thinking or behaviours.
• Postvention includes the skills and strategies for taking care of yourself or helping another person, heal after the experience of suicide thoughts, attempts, or death.
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Places to reach out for help:
Canadian Mental Health Association
edmonton.cmha.ca / 780-482-HELP (4357)
• Crisis/Distress/Suicide Prevention Centre (24/24hr - 7/7 days)
• Suicide Bereavement Group Support Services
• Other Specialized Suicide Bereavement Support Services (Individual support, children support, etc.)
Canadian Suicide Prevention Service
crisisservicescanada.ca / 1.833.456.4566
Family Survivors of Suicide
suicideaftermath.ca
