Rachel Costa
Suicide Awareness Month is a time to proactively reflect on the effort to raise awareness of suicidal behaviours and suicide. This is a time to amplify our conversations about mental health, reduce the stigma attached to suicidal thoughts and actions, and foster a community of support and understanding.
Suicide Awareness Month is a meaningful time for all of us to think about and do something about the serious issue of suicide. Whether at Shift Collab or elsewhere, communities need to come together. Our goal is simple: break down the stigma, spread awareness, encourage open conversations and kickstart discussions about preventing suicide.
By creating conversations in safe spaces for folks who have questions or concerns about suicide, we can bring awareness, reduce the stigma and have an opportunity to discuss possible supports or life-saving interventions. Suicide Awareness Month is an opportunity for individuals and a community to share thoughts and feelings that can provide relief, support and healing. We can use Suicide Awareness Month to create a safe space for those struggling and open a dialogue around suicide, which can be life-saving.
Addressing the necessity of Suicide Awareness Month requires a thorough understanding of the hard facts. Suicide, tragically, remains a pervasive public health issue in Canada. The devastation of suicide not only affects those who have attempted suicide but intimately affects their families and broader communities, leaving lasting and profound effects.
If there's one thing challenging the prevention and intervention of suicide, it is the long-lived stigma surrounding it. The prevalent misconceptions and unwarranted stereotypes often isolate those suffering instead of offering them adequate support. This is why Suicide Awareness Month is so crucial, not only for raising awareness but also for dismantling deep-seated stigmas.
Suicide prevention education can decrease suicide and suicide attempts by sharing knowledge and attitudes about mental health concerns. Having open and honest conversations about suicide is essential, especially during Suicide Awareness Month. It's crucial to debunk the misconception that talking about suicide somehow encourages it or gives people ideas. In reality, discussing suicide is a proactive step toward supporting and educating those struggling with mental health.
Initiating a conversation about support and mental health resources does not mean we are offering someone a plan to act on suicide. This belief is unfounded and can be harmful in itself.
Instead, we should view Suicide Awareness Month as an opportunity to create a safe and welcoming environment for those who might be going through difficult times. By starting a meaningful dialogue about suicide prevention, we can connect with individuals who may be silently battling their thoughts and emotions. These conversations can provide the lifeline someone needs, offering hope, understanding, and access to the help they require.
Recognizing the warning signs for suicide and knowing how to take suitable action is a crucial aspect of suicide prevention. An individual may show signs that they are considering suicide, both verbally or through their behaviour.
Suicide Awareness Month serves as a vital reminder that everyone can have a role in understanding and preventing suicide. We all can make a significant difference during Suicide Awareness Month by engaging in the following activities:
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you are not alone, and support is available to you. Please see below resources that can support you if you or someone you know is at risk of suicide.
Talk Suicide Hotline In Canada: 1-833-456-4566 https://talksuicide.ca/
CMHA:1-833-456-4566 (24/7 hotline in Ontario)Text to 45646 (4 pm to midnight)
Kids Help Phone:1-800-668-6868 (24/7 in Ontario)
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