The Canadian Mental Health Association/P.E.I. division (CMHA P.E.I.) is marking World Suicide Prevention Day, Sept. 10, by launching a new resource and by supporting a number of community events focused on preventing suicide.
In support of World Suicide Prevention Day, the public is invited to a community event at Queen Elizabeth Park (end of Belvedere Avenue) in Charlottetown starting at 6 p.m. Monday. The event will include music and sharing and will culminate with a “circle of hope” to offer comfort and support to those impacted by suicide. All are welcome to attend. The public is also encouraged to display the light of a candle in their windows at 8 p.m. Sept. 10.
As well, CMHA is launching its newest edition of the P.E.I. Helping Tree, a one-page flowchart designed to inform Islanders of the many resources available on P.E.I.
“Reaching out for help is an important step in coping with stress, distress and for preventing a suicidal crisis,” said Pat Doyle, CMHA’s suicide prevention co-ordinator.
“We hope to make that life-saving step a little easier with this resource. There are times in everyone’s life when we need to reach out for help — sometimes it’s just a matter of knowing how to reach them.”
The seventh edition of the P.E.I. Helping Tree is teal in colour and includes many new community resources. It’s also bilingual, thanks to funding support from the P.E.I. French Health Network. Copies of the P.E.I. Helping Tree will be distributed among health-related government offices and community organizations throughout the province in the coming weeks. Copies will also be available at CMHA offices in Charlottetown, Summerside and Alberton. A hyperlinked version can be downloaded from CMHA’s website at www. pei.cmha.ca.
As well, CMHA is offering nine free community “safeTALK” (safe=Suicide Alertness for Everyone) workshops across P.E.I., compliments of this spring’s, Moo Let’s Talk Day campaign.
“All of these suicide prevention efforts shine a light on this important issue, sending a message to those who are despairing and those who are grieving – they remind us all that there is help and there is hope,” said CMHA president Matt Younker.
To register for safeTALK workshops, call Tayte at 902-628-1648 or toll free 1-800-682-1648. For more information about World Suicide Prevention Day activities or CMHA’s Suicide Prevention efforts, visit pei.cmha.ca.
