World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10
Care for your community, and let your community care for you
It takes a community to prevent suicide. Most people thinking about suicide disclose their thoughts to someone they know. We can help our community be safe by developing our skills and knowledge to support someone considering suicide and develop a socially connected community where people have someone to turn to.
Discover ways to support yourself if you or those in your life have been experiencing suicidal thoughts. Learn about resources and how to participate in suicide prevention by attending Suicide Prevention Day events in early September.
Student Stories
Olivia (Xander) is a fourth-year undergraduate student who has written about their experience with suicide.
Read Olivia's (Xander's) story
Sef is a fourth year undergrad in physiology and the coordinator for The Landing.
Events
- Chat, Care, Connect
- Sept. 10, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Community of Care Station
- Sept. 10, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Cameron Corner
- Eccentric Gathering of Good Souls
- Tuesday evenings 6 - 8 p.m.
Skill Building Opportunities
Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Training
Free sessions are offered monthly through Wellness Supports
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course that equips individuals with the skills to recognize, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges, providing initial support until professional help is accessed.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety.
If you need help
You don’t have to face thoughts of suicide alone.
Suicide exists on a spectrum from having thoughts of suicide to having an active plan. Help is available no matter where a person is on that spectrum. It can feel hard to believe that there are other options, and asking for help can be difficult, but finding safe people to talk to is one of the best things you can do.
If you have a plan or think you may attempt to kill yourself, get help right away:
- Remove yourself from danger or (if safe) stay where you are.
- Find someone to talk to. Reach out to a close friend, a loved one, a spiritual leader or someone else in your faith community.
- Slow your breathing and focus on the outbreath; name your senses, such as sight, taste, smell and touch to help you be present in the moment.
- Call a distress line or seek help from your doctor or other health care provider. You can get immediate support by calling or texting the following:
- AHS Access 24/7 at 780-424-2424, ext. 2
- at 780-482-4357 (HELP)
- at 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868
- First Nations and Inuit at 1-855-242-3310
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (please hyperlink ) or call or text 9-8-8
- If you are out of the country and having thoughts of suicide, use this to find a crisis line in your country.
If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1- or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room.
If someone else needs help
Sometimes, people think that if they encourage someone to talk about suicide, it might increase the likelihood that they will attempt. In fact, research shows the opposite - so connecting with someone who cares can make a life-saving difference.
If you are concerned that someone is thinking about suicide, ask them directly:
- “Are you thinking about suicide?” or
- “Are you having thoughts of ending your life?”
If they tell you they are thinking about suicide, take time to find out if they have a plan:
- Do they know when?
- Do they know how? If yes, do they have the means on them?
- Do they know where?
Help connect them to appropriate resources that can provide care. This includes getting them to emergency services if they have consumed anything lethal or have immediate plans to act on their thoughts of suicide.
You can develop your skillset to help people with suicidal ideation through free training provided by Wellness Supports.
Tips for supporters
You can support friends, colleagues or students in our community who are thinking about suicide even if you’re not a therapist. Our support can be crucial for people if they are thinking about suicide. These conversations are important. Supporters need care, too, to effectively be there for others. Know that our campus supports are available for you, too.
Tips:
- If you anticipate having a conversation about suicide, take the time to practice some meaningful self-care to help you be present for the conversation.
- Not sure how to approach the conversation? Call the Distress Line 780-482-4357 (HELP) to talk the scenario through.
- Check in with yourself after the discussion and assess what you might need. You can call a distress line to talk through the experience or consider reaching out to a trusted friend or family member.
- Supporting someone doesn't mean you're the only one who can help. In fact, this can be harmful to you and the person you’re concerned about. Don’t make promises to keep suicidal ideation a secret. Instead, encourage them to think about who in their life they can reach out to and help them make those connections.
- Skill up and take the free mental health training available to you through the university.
- Find support and information on care for caregivers
Struggling with a loss from suicide?
Losing someone you care about can be shocking and incredibly painful. The experience can be intense, complex and long-term.
Working through grief is an extremely individual and unique process. You will need to find your own way at your own pace.
Connect with resources that support you in making sense of what has happened and learn how to live with your loss. Campus and community resources, such as the Peer Support Centre and helplines, are also available for your support.
Supports available: