CHPNA: What's New : World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD)

The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) is sending out this reminder that September 10th is World Suicide Prevention day. We are encouraging everyone and every community in Canada to get involved and do something to recognize suicide prevention day. Suicide is a major health problem and millions of Canadians have been affected by the harmful affects of suicidal behaviours. It is important that as Canadians we show our support and provide comfort to our family, friends, co-workers and neighbours who have been affected by a suicide related death. It is also important that we demonstrate our support for a national suicide prevention strategy. Canada’s suicide rate is in the top third of all countries and while most developed countries have adopted national suicide prevention strategies Canada as yet has not.

CASP is asking that crisis centres, suicide survivor groups, mental health providers, academics, researchers and other stakeholders throughout Canada get involved in planning events in your community to recognize suicide prevention in Canada. There are a wide range of activities that can be used to increase public awareness and influence policy makers and our politicians to take action and adopt CASP’s blue print for National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Initiatives that actively engage people and encourage participation and personal contact will play an important role in encouraging people to learn more and get involved in this most important issue.

What can be done in your community, (with thanks to the International Association For Suicide Prevention IASP);

Organize memorial services, events, walks, and candlelight ceremonies, to remember those who have died by suicide and to comfort those who have been affected by these tragic losses.
Organize walks to political or public places to highlight suicide prevention.
Organize ceremonies where people bring pairs of shoes to commemorate people they lost because of a suicide. Place all the shoes in a pile to send a meaningful and powerful message to the rest of the world and your community. After the ceremony donate the shoes to charity such as a homeless shelter or charitable thrift store.
Organize concerts, BBQs, breakfasts, luncheons, fairs in public places
Hold depression awareness events in public places and offer screening for depression.
Secure interviews and speaking spots on radio and television
Ask national and provincial politicians with responsibility for health, public health, mental health and/or suicide prevention to make relevant announcements, release policies or make supportive statements or press releases on WSPD
Write editorials for scientific, medical, education, nursing, law and other relevant journals
Issue press releases and write letters to the editor
Write articles for local, community and regional newspapers and magazines
Hold public lectures and panel discussions
Hold press conferences
Secure interviews and speaking spots on radio and television
Distribute leaflets, posters and other written information
Hold book launches or launches of new booklets or resource guides
Hold training courses in suicide and depression awareness

To assist you in your efforts CASP has developed sample press releases, editorials, special events notices and other material that can be adapted for use in your community. To access this material please visit (http://www.casp-acps.ca/WSPD.asp) We hope that you find this material helpful.

CASP would like to hear from you about what events are being planned in your community. Please let us know by emailing us at admin@casp-acps.ca.

We wish you well in planning your events and thank you for your support in working with us towards an official national strategy for suicide prevention.

Marion Cooper Tim Wall
President, CASP Board of Directors Executive Director, CASP