Resources

About suicide prevention

Updated September 2023 Suicide is complex because people are complex – each person who considers suicide does so for reasons unique to them. We do know that people who think about and attempt suicide don’t want to die: they want a way out of their psychological pain or their deep sense of burdensomeness. This is […]

Suicide stats for Canada, provinces and territories

Canada and all jurisdictions suicide statistics from Statistics Canada All of these statistics are sourced from Statistics Canada. StatsCan suppresses data points that are less than 5 to ensure confidentiality. Data are collected in April and October and include all deaths investigated by a coroner or medical examiner for the previous calendar year and any […]

Cross-Canada statistics

Data sources across all provinces and territories are updated at differing time periods; as such, recent data may be incomplete due to delays in reporting. This spreadsheet provides statistics across Canada for all provinces and territories. Compiled by the Centre for Suicide Prevention Last update: August 30th, 2023 Other available statistics: Alberta suicide stats by […]

Alberta suicide stats by region and age

Alberta’s provincial suicide statistics broken down by region and age. Additional resource: Edmonton Suicide Trends Report Compiled by the Centre for Suicide Prevention Last update: July 10, 2023

Youth suicide prevention

Updated March 2023 Expert reviewers: David Klonsky, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia Ian Manion, Psychologist This toolkit has also been reviewed by a focus group of young people. Introduction The teen years are full of social, physiological, and neurological change. Fielding a combination of internal and external stressors is common in adolescence. […]

Respite House evaluation report

The Centre for Suicide Prevention received funding from Alberta Health to pilot a respite centre in Fort McMurray. Respite centres are a community-based alternative to hospital care for people in suicidal crisis. Through short-term stays in a home-like environment, guests access 24/7 crisis de-escalation services, respite activities, peer support, and connection to community resources and […]

Transforming Calgary’s Crisis Response System: Final Report

Originally published: 2021 Throughout Canada, research and practice focused on responding to crisis due to mental health concerns, addictions, and similar challenges is gaining momentum. Calgary is no exception – Calgary’s Community Safety Investment Framework (CSIF), a collaboration between the City of Calgary, Calgary Police Services, and community partners, has explored the city’s crisis response […]

Prevalence of suicidal ideation

Selected literature review; November 2022 Suicide is a public health crisis in Canada. More than 4,000 people die by suicide in this country every year, equivalent to a rate of 12.1 per 100,000 or 0.00242 suicides in 20. (This number is derived through a multi-step process; for more information, see our article The accuracy and […]

Suicide data gaps in Canada

Introduction About 4500 people die by suicide in Canada annually. Researchers assert this number is understated; various studies suggesting the real number is 10-30% higher. After stigma, the main reason for underreporting suicide is lack of standards in death determination practices and data collection. A national suicide prevention strategy could set national standards for both […]

Suicide prevention initiatives in Canada

Introduction Canada needs a national suicide prevention strategy. We are the sole G7 country without one.  A wealth of evidence indicates that having, resourcing and implementing a national suicide prevention strategy reduces suicide. Suicide is a mental health crisis and a public health crisis: initiatives are needed at the individual, community, and population levels to […]

Suicide grief and loss

What is unique about suicide loss? The grief experienced by people who have lost someone to suicide can be more complicated than the grief that follows other types of death. Suicide can be ambiguous – unlike other forms of death which are seen as “beyond control” of the person who died and their loved ones, […]

Recovery-oriented practice

Recovery from suicidality is possible. Anyone can use active listening to support a person in suicidal crisis to help them identify their own reasons to keep living. This is a first step to recovering from a mindset preoccupied with suicide. People who think about and attempt suicide don’t want to die: they want a way […]

Peer support in suicide prevention

What is peer support? According to Schlichthorst et al. (2020), peer support is a “system of giving and receiving help, founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility, and mutual agreement of what is helpful” (pp. 1-2). In the peer support system, two peers with shared experience of mental health or addiction issues focus on […]

Harm reduction approaches in healthcare settings

This briefing note was first drafted in July 2022 Background Harm reduction refers to interventions aimed at reducing the negative effects of health behaviours without necessarily extinguishing the problematic health behaviours completely (Hawk et al., 2017). Harm reduction approaches have been shown to be efficacious in sexual health, alcohol and substance use services (James et […]

Borderline personality disorder, suicidal behaviours and hospitalization

Selected literature review; August 2022 Research states that suicide occurs in up to 10% of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) cases (Paris 2019). However, people experiencing BPD are most likely to die by suicide later in the course of their illness. What is the best treatment for those experiencing BPD and how do we keep them […]

Youth suicide prevention in Alberta

Centre for Suicide Prevention has compiled a listing of youth suicide prevention programs and activities in Alberta as part of the Government of Alberta’s Youth Suicide Prevention Plan. Last updated: January 2023

Substance use disorder and suicide

Updated September 2022 Expert reviewer Dr. Kenneth Conner Psy.D., M.P.H., Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center Dr. Conner is a noted researcher on alcohol and drug use and suicidal behaviours. Introduction Substance use disorder is the second most frequent risk factor for suicidal behaviour after depression. People who are experiencing a […]

The Library Collection

Rural and remote communities and suicide prevention

Cliquez ici pour la version française Click here to view all our fact sheets on suicide. These fact sheets are a collaboration between the Centre for Suicide Prevention and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Introduction Suicide rates are higher in Canada’s rural areas (Hirsch & Cukrowicz, 2014; Barry et al., 2020). People there also […]

Men and suicide

Cliquez ici pour la version française Click here to view all our fact sheets on suicide. These fact sheets are a collaboration between the Centre for Suicide Prevention and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Introduction Middle-aged men (40 to 60) die by suicide more than anyone, including young people and women (Statistics Canada, 2019). […]

Agriculture and suicide

Cliquez ici pour la version française Click here to view all our fact sheets on suicide. These fact sheets are a collaboration between the Centre for Suicide Prevention and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Introduction Farming and ranching are considered two of the most stressful occupations, both physically and mentally. Unique factors associated with agricultural work may […]

Public health and suicide prevention

Cliquez ici pour la version française Click here to view all our fact sheets on suicide. These fact sheets are a collaboration between the Centre for Suicide Prevention and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Introduction Suicide in Canada is an ongoing public health crisis. While it continues to be a high-ranking cause of death […]

Youth and suicide prevention

Cliquez ici pour la version française Click here to view all our fact sheets on suicide. These fact sheets are a collaboration between the Centre for Suicide Prevention and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Introduction Young people face significant internal and external stressors, including social, physiological, and neurological change. Being an adolescent can involve […]