FLYERS TO HOST SUICIDE PREVENTION NIGHT
Many people’s lives have been touched by suicide. The reality is it can happen to anyone, in any family, in any community. Recognition is heightened about the need for awareness on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th. Communities across Wellington and Dufferin Counties are stepping up to keep that message alive over the coming weeks. The Suicide Awareness Council of Wellington Dufferin (SACWD) are partnering with local hockey teams in a number of communities this fall to bring attention to, and provide information about suicide.
The SACWD will be present at the Orangeville Flyers hockey game on Saturday October 12th at the Alder Street Recreation Centre to raise awareness and provide information about supports and services available to help.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the world, with nearly 4,000 Canadians taking their own life every year. The number of lives lost annually by suicide exceeds the number of deaths from homicide and war combined. These staggering figures do not include nonfatal suicide attempts which occur much more frequently, up to 100 times more often according to stats Canada. Those statistics take on new meaning when a suicide happens in our own community, with people we know and care about.
One of the biggest barriers to people in distress reaching out for help is the impact of stigma, the worry over what people might think if they really knew what was going on. We need to speak out, to get accurate information and to talk about suicide with others. It is important to support those who have lost someone to suicide and encourage hope and resiliency for those who are struggling. Changing attitudes about mental health and suicide requires all of us to get involved to influence community norms and help to make it more acceptable to reach out for help.
The Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) has set a good example of stepping up to make a difference. In June of this year, the OHA announced the launch of a program to provide suicide awareness training to teams and their communities across Ontario.
The Suicide Awareness Council is pleased to be partnering with a number of local teams for these events.
Contact Information:
1) Kim Kitchen Ph: 519-941-1530 x 376 E-mail kim.kitchen@dcafs.on.ca
2) Sandra Parkinson Ph: 519-766-4450 x 231 E-mail sparkinson@cmhawwd.ca
