We have been involved in mental health and suicide issues for a few years
now. We have found that one of the biggest myths is that by talking directly
about suicide that this will increase the number of suicides. Being open
about the subject gives people the freedom to seek help and makes them aware
that it is not just their issue.
I would suggest of course that you connect with the Canadian Mental Health
Association (http://www.cmha.ca/english/) and especially their links to the
Ontario branch (http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/) and the Metro Toronto branch
(http://www.toronto.cmha.ca). There is also the Ontario Suicide Prevention
Network, the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention
(http://www.suicideprevention.ca/) , the Suicide Education and Information
Centre (http://www.suicideinfo.ca/), the Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health (http://www.camh.net/) , and of course many more that you can follow
the links to.
There is a Suicide Awareness Conference - Building on What We Know that I
would highly recommend attending in Orillia on April 9, 2003. The Agenda is
as follows ...
9:15 to 10:30 Keynote Address - Acting on What We Know - Preventing First
Nations Youth Suicide by Dr. Cornelia Wieman
10:50 to 12:00 Workshops - A. Quiet Desperation - The truth about men and
suicide B. Suicidal behaviours in Youth C. Assessing Geriatric
Suicidality D. Seeing the Light - A personal touch
1:15 to 2:30 Workshops - E. Suicide prevention for Aboriginal communities
F. Dimensions in Perfectionisms and suicide in adolescents and adults G.
suicide prevention protocol for school staff H. supporting children -
survivors of suicide
2:40 to 2:50 Save-A-Heart program presentation
2:50 to 3:20 Closing ceremony - Ms. Sherry Lawson - former Justice of the
Peace
Cost is only $ 40 and includes a buffet lunch. For more info contact Ms. Pat
Cadeau at (705) 526-0567.
You may also be interested in the following sites ...
http://www.lovingoutreach.org/
http://www.nami.org/
http://www.gov.on.ca/health/english/program/mental_health/mentalhealth/menta
limplement_mn.html
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/childhood-youth/cyfh/child_and_youth/mental_heal
th/
http://www.sparrowlake.org/
http://www.health.gov.au/hsdd/mentalhe/resources/mindmatters/
http://www.suicidology.org/
http://www.yspp.org/
http://www.save.org/
http://www.withonevoice.org/
http://www.mentalhealth.org/suicideprevention/strategy.htm
We set up information centres in community locations and at the local high
school using the CMHA pamphlets and those from Channing-Bete. We also
trained key community leaders in Suicide Intervention skills
http://www.livingworks.net/ and taught at local schools and for the peer
mentors at the local college. We have a local Committee on Suicide Awareness
available for community education.
There is a good curriculum available from the Kingston area school board
called Friends helping Friends which was acted out by local students. We
have also used the video entitled "David's Story" in the community. There
was a play presented in Toronto a couple of years ago from B.C. - they may
be coming back http://www.dancearts.bc.ca/press.htm
Note - for community displays, we found that it was best if they were
unmanned with your volunteer / worker nearby in case there were questions
but otherwise people were nervous to approach mental health displays.
Hope this helps,
Peter
****
North Victoria Healthy Communities Coalition
Youth Aflame Ministries Inc.
4094 Monck Rd., P.O. Box 322
Coboconk, ON K0M 1K0
(705) 454-8875
(705) 454-9197 Fax
-----Original Message-----
From: Health Promotion on the Internet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Singleton, Michele
Sent: March 12, 2003 10:46 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Community based suicide awareness raising programs
Hi there. In public health in Ontario our revised (but still draft)
Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines call for action in the
area of suicide awareness. Specifically, increasing public awareness that
suicide is preventable and a major health concern; increasing awareness of
the risk ractors and the protective factors for suicide and improving the
timely identification of persons at risk for sicide. It would seem obvious
that this needs to be bigger than just public health and needs to include
community partnerships.
I am wondering if any one has done any work in this area and has come across
or (better still) implemented programming that would address these
objectives/goals. I would appreciate your thoughts/wisdom. Thank you.
Michele
Michèle S. Singleton
Manager, Mental Health Liaison and Special Projects
Halton Region Health Department
1151 Bronte Road, Oakville
email: [log in to unmask]
voice: 1-866-442-5866 ext 7864
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