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Suicide Prevention2021-09-13T17:00:21+00:00

Prevention is the umbrella in working toward reducing deaths by suicide; increasing awareness, eliminating stigma, knowing what to do in the event that you or someone you know experiences thoughts or behaviours associated with suicide. It’s having the skills, awareness, before someone is in crisis. In preventing suicide, intervention and postvention are components toward the goal of reducing suicides.

Who is at Risk of Dying by Suicide?

Older adults are at higher risk due to life changes and transitions through loss, lifestyle changes due to physical disability, a move from independent living to assisted living and social isolation and abuse. Warning signs: appetite changes, lack of participation in social events, signs of abuse and neglect.

Young people are at higher risk due to family and school pressures, major life changes, hormone changes, bullying and sexual orientation issues.Warning signs: eating disorders, deliberate self-harm, withdrawal from normal activities, exceptional and extreme mood swings, perfectionist behaviour or extreme self-critical behaviour

People who have recently had a major loss or life change are at higher risk, as grief can change to depression that may last several weeks or longer.Warning signs: major changes in attitude, changes in eating or sleeping habits, loss of energy or loss of interest in things that were once enjoyed.

Especially vulnerable are people who are recovering from an episode of depression or who have a history of suicide attempts, or who have just been released from the hospital. [1]

Facts and Stats

Canada

  • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for 10-19 year olds and the 9th leading cause of death in Canada.
  • An average of 10 people die by suicide each day in Canada.
  • Of the approximate 4,000 deaths by suicide per year, 90% were living with a mental health problem or illness.

Alberta

  • In 2017, in Alberta, there were 637 suicidal deaths, a 25% increase from 2012.
  • The suicide rate in Alberta went up by 30% in 2015 in the wake of mass oil patch layoffs.
  • Females accounted for 58% of the hospital admissions and 61% of the emergency department visits for attempted suicide/self-inflicted injuries.

Aboriginal Communities

  • Suicide and self-inflicted injuries are the leading causes of death for First Nations youth and adults up to 44 years of age.
  • Approximately 55% of all Aboriginal people are under 25 years of age.
  • The suicide rate for First Nations male youth (age 15-24) is 126 per 100,000 compared to 24 per 100,000 for non-Aboriginal male youth.
  • For First Nations females, the suicide rate is 35 per 100,000 compared to 5 per 100,000 for non-Aboriginal females (Health Canada, 2010).
  • Suicide rates for Inuit youth are among the highest in the world, at 11 times the national average. [2]

What Does It Look Like?

Those who are at risk may show these warning signs of suicide. They may:

  • Making suicidal statements.
  • Being preoccupied with death in conversation, writing, or drawing.
  • Giving away belongings.
  • Withdrawing from friends and family.
  • Having aggressive or hostile behaviour
  • Neglecting personal appearance.
  • Running away from home.
  • Risk-taking behaviour, such as reckless driving or being sexually promiscuous.
  • A change in personality (such as from upbeat to quiet). [3]

See Suicide Prevention in the Mental Health Training Framework document

Mental Health Training Framework

Suicide Prevention

Resources

Toolkits

Zero Suicide Toolkit

Individual, Organization, Professional, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention Toolkits, Toolkit|

This toolkit is a comprehensive program of strategies, tools and readings to assist behavioral health providers in achieving safe suicide care. Addresses the following core components: Lead, Train Identify, Engage, Treat, Transition, Improve. This is offered by the Suicide Prevention Resource Centre and the National Alliance for Suicide Prevention.  

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Videos

Safe Messaging about Suicide, Mental Illness and Mental Health

Individual, Organization, Professional, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention Videos, Videos, Youth|

The Mental Health Commission of Canada offers this 1-hour webinar to help people learn how to safely talk about suicide and mental health. Information will be provided to help participants gain the confidence necessary to learn from people with lived experience and engage in safe and meaningful conversation about suicide

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In-Person Training

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)

In-Person, In-Person Training, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention In-Person Training, Training|

Offered through the Centre for Suicide Prevention two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. 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. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t

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Little Cub

In-Person, In-Person Training, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention In-Person Training, Training|

This Centre for Suicide Prevention workshop is a discussion-based workshop examining suicide prevention in Indigenous children and communities. The workshop draws heavily on storytelling and oral tradition. It begins by recognizing the unique precipitating factors of suicide in Indigenous communities and moves through to identifying risk and protective factors in

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Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Training (QPR)

In-Person, In-Person Training, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention In-Person Training, Training|

Delivered provincially through Imagine Institute for Learning, this Gatekeeper course is a half-day course aimed at building confidence in how to question, persuade and refer someone who may be suicidal. Participants will learn the warning signs for suicide and increase their knowledge around suicide. They will also increase their confidence

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Strategies for Living (Grande Prairie)

In-Person, In-Person Training, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention In-Person Training, Training|

This is an interactive workshop offered by the Suicide Prevention Resource Centre in Grande Prairie, for people working with youth. This one-day workshop discusses biological risk factors, vulnerabilities, and understanding suicidal thoughts and behaviour in the adolescent population. (1-day) Competency: Knowledge, Behavioural, Activating Audience: Youth Cost: $100

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Suicide Intervention Training (Lethbridge Family Services)

In-Person, In-Person Training, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention In-Person Training, Training|

The core of the training is the three-step RAP Model for intervention, which involves rapport building, assessing the individual, and planning for intervention. Focus on skills in active listening, conducting a standardized risk assessment, and developing safety plans with individuals at risk. Additional content on specific populations and community resources.

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Tattered Teddies

In-Person, In-Person Training, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention In-Person Training, Training|

An interactive knowledge-based workshop which examines warning signs in a child and explores intervention strategies through stories and case studies. Intervention approaches build on the skills taught in the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) as they apply to children. (half day) Competency: Knowledge, Behavioural, Activating Audience: Children / Youth

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Online Training

Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Training (QPR)

Online, Online Training, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention Online Training, Training|

Offered through the Question, Persuade, Refer Institute, this course teaches participants: How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal; How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide; The common causes of suicidal behavior: The warning signs of suicide; How to get help for

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Suicide Prevention, Risk Assessment and Management (SPRAM)

Online, Online Training, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention Online Training, Training|

AHS Learning Series course introduces four (4) distinct character profiles, each depicting a pathway of care within a unique practice setting (i.e., mental health inpatient, corrections etc). Upon completion of the selected pathway, the learner will be provided with a Certificate of Participation (6 CME /CEU study credits). (7 modules)

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References

  1. Mood Disorders of Ontario. Frequently Asked Questions – Suicide. Retrieved from http://www.mooddisorders.ca/faq/suicide
  2. Centre for Suicide Prevention. (2013). Suicide Prevention Primer: Facts and Myths. Retrieved from https://www.suicideinfo.ca/resources/
  3. Health Link BC. (2017). Warning Signs of Suicide. Retrieved from https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/hw29139

Land Acknowledgement

The Community Mental Health Action Plan respectfully acknowledges that we are located on traditional land known as amiskwacîwâskahikan (ᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) on Treaty 6 territory and Metis Nation of Alberta Region 4. This land is home to many diverse Indigenous peoples including the Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, Ojibway / Saulteaux / Anishinaabe, and Inuit who have lived, travelled, and cared for the land since time immemorial.

We are committed to reconciliation and upholding the City of Edmonton’s Indigenous Framework, honouring the cultures, histories, and languages of indigenous peoples in our community.

© Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved | Community Mental Health Action Plan | United Way of the Alberta Capital Region
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