The most helpful thing one can do to prevent suicides is to be aware and talk, says Heather Glenister, council coordinator at Suicide Awareness Council of Wellington-Dufferin (SACWD).
“It’s more important than ever for family, friends and neighbours — particularly those in rural communities where there is a lot of isolation and vulnerability — to talk about it and make it okay to say ‘You know what? I'm not feeling so good,’” says Glenister.
“And it's okay not to feel okay.”
Thursday is World Suicide Prevention Day. Glenister highlighted that the demand for local mental services and suicide have both increased due to the pandemic.
She says COVID-19 has resulted in many people finding themselves in difficult situations as people are reaching out more, finding themselves in crisis and dealing with suicide ideation.
“This isn’t going to go away anytime soon and as long as COVID is rearing on every head so to speak, people are going to continue to feel that anxiety and how you cope with that,” says Glenister.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, an average of 11 people take their life each day. A third of those deaths are people between the ages of 45 to 59.
These numbers do not include the number of people who have suicidal thoughts and who attempt suicide. Regardless of the statistics, Glenister highlights that one person dying of suicide is one too many.
To raise awareness, SACWD launched Work Together to Prevent Suicide, a campaign that encourages the community to send messages to those struggling and grieving to remind them that hope and healing are a possibility.
SACWD is encouraging the community to:
1. Join the council’s “What do you live for?” photo challenge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
2. Light a candle and place it near a window at 8 p.m. on Sept. 10. , The candle will be seen as a beacon of care and compassion, which illuminates the need for suicide awareness and prevention.
3. Join the Mysterious Barricades for their cross-country musical virtual tour on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.
“Our collective actions and words give a powerful voice to the difference each one of us, alone and together can make. We invite everyone to find at least one way to make a difference,” says Glenister.
Glenister says locally, we’re very fortunate to have many support systems such as the Here 24/7, the distress line and walk-in services by the Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington walk-in services.
She says the essence of world suicide prevention day is to encourage people to talk about it to eliminate the stigma around it, raise awareness and ultimately help out.
“You don't have to be a counsellor, you don't have to have skills or great magnitude to help someone,” says Glenister.
“It’s important to be aware of what’s going on so people don’t get in that state.”
