Hello Friends, Every day we scan news headlines and social media for items of interest to the field of suicide prevention. Here’s what we found last week:  Featured: ‘It’s okay not to be okay’: University of Alberta bike-a-thon raises awareness for mental health – GlobalMar. 4, 2016Mara Grunau talks about how difficult, yet important, it is for […]

CSP is happy to be a featured as Day 50 of CMHA Calgary’s 60 Conversations campaign. The campaign seeks to challenge stigma and inspire strength! We can all become stronger by BEING BOLD and breaking down the barriers of stigma surrounding suicide. We will all be made stronger, as individuals and as a society, by […]

Our latest resource toolkit is available! A suicide in a school community is devastating to staff, students and families. This toolkit provides practical information to schools after a student has died by suicide. Access the toolkit here: http://bit.ly/StudentSuicide

Hello Friends, Every day we scan news headlines and social media for items of interest to the field of suicide prevention. Here’s what we found last week:  Featured: Alberta acts on mental health recommendations – Government of Alberta Feb. 22, 2016 This past Monday the Government of Alberta released the report of recommendations from the Mental Health Review Panel, which worked […]

Suicide is complex, because people are complex. Because of its complexity, there are not many best practices in suicide prevention, but there are four that most organizations, including the World Health Organization, agree upon.  “Best practice: commercial or professional procedures that are accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective.” 1. Open and Easy […]

Today the Alberta government released a report of recommendations coming out of the Mental Health Review, and we were happy to see suicide prevention listed as a priority.  The report also specifically mentions the Centre for Suicide Prevention and our potential role in this prioritization (p. 31). Mara Grunau, Executive Director at CSP, was in […]

Hello Friends,Every day we scan news headlines and social media for items of interest to the field of suicide prevention. Here’s what we found last week: Featured: Child suicide is a crisis in Canada. Here’s how we can prevent it – Huffington PostFeb. 17, 2016Mara Grunau, the Centre for Suicide Prevention’s Executive Director, is featured […]

Hello Friends, Every day we scan news headlines and social media for items of interest to the field of suicide prevention. Here’s what we found last week:  Regina police educating entire force on mental health – Regina Leader-PostFeb. 15, 2016Regina Police Service will use the “Road to Mental Readiness” program, developed by MHCC and the Department […]

The number of people who die by suicide each year in Canada equates to a jumbo jet 747 crashing and killing everyone on board… every single month of the year. If as many people died in plane crashes as they do by suicide, there would be a public uproar. Instead, suicide is swept under the […]

Hello Friends, Every day we scan news headlines and social media for items of interest to the field of suicide prevention. Here’s what we found last week:  Featured:Letter: Blue Monday Thanks – Morinville News Feb. 4, 2016 The Centre for Suicide Prevention wrote a letter of thanks to all the journalists who covered our Debunking Blue Monday story. The Morinville News […]

Blue Monday is a mythical day that is said to be the “most depressing day of the year,” and a day where perhaps more suicides take place. We set out to debunk this myth, as depression is much more complex than simply feeling blue on a wintery Monday after the holidays. People with depression experience […]

The third Monday in January has, since about 2005, been reported to be the day of the year that people feel most depressed. This correlates with another belief that the most suicides take place on this day. It’s easy to understand why the belief in Blue Monday persists; after the holiday season people may be […]

Recently, a Calgary teen has brought it to the attention of the public that online retail company Amazon has been selling inappropriate and insensitive t-shirts that “poke fun” of people with mental illness and suicidal ideation.  CSP has written a response to the story: “We agree with Maggie Harder that these t-shirts are disrespectful to those with […]

The importance of mental wellness in suicide prevention cannot be understated! Here at CSP, we suggest making mental health a priority for 2016. Here are some tips on how to be mentally healthy in the New Year, adapted from our infoExchange article Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention. 

If someone you know: threatens suicide talks about wanting to die shows changes in behaviour, appearance, or mood abuses drugs and/or alcohol deliberately injures themselves appears depressed, sad, withdrawn… You can help! stay calm and listen let the person talk about their feelings be accepting- do not judge ask if the person is having suicidal […]

The tireless work of the I Will Survive Association has once again led to a very successful fundraising event! This year, the Music 4 Life fundraiser generated $21,000 in funding for the Centre for Suicide Prevention, CMHA Calgary, Distress Centre, and the Calgary Counselling Centre.  CSP’s Executive Director Mara Grunau with I Will Survive Association […]

CSP Holiday Colouring Contest “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me” – Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller Take a little time out from your busy holiday schedule and de-stress with our Christmas colouring page. Colouring is a great activity that promotes relaxation and good mental health! Stay tuned to […]

CSP responds to newly released suicide statistics from Medical Examiner (Alberta Justice) A CBC story regarding the elevation in suicide rates for the period of January-June 2015 clearly resonated with Albertans. Numerous media outlets requested interviews with CSP Executive Director, Mara Grunau. Recent media coverage includes: Suicide rate in Alberta up 30 percent – CBC Calgary […]

This past Saturday CSP was honoured to be the recipients of the “Lift the Silence” Fundraiser held in Calgary, Alberta at Gametime Sports Bar and Grill. The evening was packed with fun events including a silent auction, games, speeches, and live music.  Thank you to the organizer, Kim Vejprava, for choosing us as your recipient!  Michael […]

This week, the Globe and Mail revealed the results of their investigation into the suicide deaths of military veterans. Out of this investigation has come an updated number of suicide deaths, 59,  coming out of the Afghanistan mission. This is ahead of Remembrance Day, Nov. 11. CSP agrees with the Globe that all veterans should […]

The Centre for Suicide Prevention has been awarded 1st prize, $25,000, in the Blue Sky: Aboriginal Health Initiatives Challenge! We are so grateful to MNP for creating this great opportunity, as well as to the panelists, Tyler White of Siksika Health  , Marion Crowe of the First Nations Health Managers Association, Stephanie Carroll Rainie of the […]

Image courtesy of I Will Survive Association. This past weekend we attended the Music 4 Life Concert event, hosted each year by the I Will Survive Association. We were honoured to receive proceeds from the event, which included a concert and silent auction.  Mara Grunau, CSP Executive Director Thank you to the I Will Survive […]

MNP has given people the opportunity to submit original ideas for Aboriginal Health Initiatives. CSP’s idea was chosen as a finalist to win the People’s Choice – $5000!  Our idea is to take our Walk With Me: Aboriginal Suicide Bereavement Workshop, and host a Training for Trainers session. Currently, we only have one Trainer who […]