Weekly News Roundup Apr 3 – 8, 2018
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:
Province developing youth suicide prevention plan – Calgary Herald
April 6, 2018
Alberta’s Children’s Services Ministry is developing a youth suicide prevention plan based on recommendations from a 2016 report by Alberta’s child and youth advocate Del Graff. Centre for Suicide Prevention is helping develop and implement the plan. Mara Grunau, Executive Director, talked about the importance of intervening with youth at-risk of suicide. “If a person is at risk from suicide from an early age and it goes undealt with, unaddressed, then it festers with time and it becomes more intense as you grow,” said Grunau. “Early intervention is key.”
Filmmaker explores youth suicide on BC reserves, stars young cousin – CBC
April 7, 2018
ʔEtsu, a short film directed by Trevor Mack from the Tl’etinqox reserve near Prince George, BC, focuses on the issues of suicide, grief, and abuse. Mack drew from his personal experiences when making the film, as well as stories he’d heard while working with the province’s health services authority. “It’s a natural thing to want to tell a story of your environment of growing up and I think it all just culminated in that,” said Mack. “One of the best things about film is the healing process of talking.”
The legacy of Rehtaeh Parsons – CBC
April 6, 2018
5 years ago, Rehtaeh Parsons died by suicide after being sexually assaulted and bullied by her peers. Now, the community is reflecting on her death and what could have been done to prevent it. Parson’s friend Bryony Jollimore was one of many to be profoundly affected by her death, aspires to become a youth mental health worker. “A girl who changed all the rules, changed how we view things,” says Jollimore, Rehtaeh, she says, “almost rewrote what we think about mental health and suicide awareness.”
‘I lost my best friend to suicide last May’ Central Alberta teen raises awareness about mental health issues – Red Deer Advocate
April 5, 2018
Shareena Ermineskin,13, from Maskwacis, Alberta, was crowned Miss Teen Central Alberta, and is now using her position to bring awareness to suicide and suicide prevention. Ermineskin lost her best friend, Sapphirra Rabbit to suicide last May. “So many people face depression and anxiety by themselves and they’re afraid of being ridiculed for reaching out to others, and I want to encourage them, and give them hope, to let them know they’re not alone,” said Ermineskin.
Why doctors must solve the suicide problem – Proto
April 5, 2018
In this interview, Chief Medical Officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Christine Moutier explains the significant role of physicians in the prevention of suicide. People who are treated in the ER after a suicide attempt have shown a 50% reduction in repeat attempts and hospitalization when they are treated with proven approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy, and physicians have the unique advantage of encountering all at-risk groups.
When the death of a family farm leads to suicide – New York Times
March 19, 2018
The dairy industry in the US was hit hard by an economic crisis, and farming is one industry with some of the highest suicide rates. Financial uncertainty is one contributing factor: “You’re not just losing your job and your house,” said FarmNet outreach director Hal McCabe. “You’re losing your entire family history and legacy, through no fault of your own.” NY FarmNet, a farm support group in New York state, is running suicide prevention training for agricultural service providers and lenders who work with dairy farmers. FarmNet also runs a 24-hour crisis line.