Weekly News Roundup August 14 – 20, 2016

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: 

‘Where do I belong’: How cultural connectedness is essential for mental health – CBC
August 17, 2016
Cultural connectedness was highlighted in a presentation made last week in Charlottetown, PEI, at the Symposium on Child and Youth Mental Health. Cultural connectedness is emphasized in a new mental health measurement tool developed from a First Nations perspective. Carol Hopkins, executive director of Ontario’s Thunderbird Partnership Foundation, spoke about the tool and said, “Every human being wants to have hope in their life. They want life to have meaning. They want to know what their purpose is and where do I belong.” Cultural connectedness is vital to suicide prevention in Indigenous communities for these very reasons: it gives purpose, a sense of belonging, and hope.

Vancouver lawyer welcomes new mental health funding for immigration detainees – CBC
August 17, 2016
Of the $138 million federal dollars going to rebuild immigration detention centres in Quebec and Vancouver, $10.5 million has been assigned to increase health and mental health care. Immigrants go to detention centres for a number of reasons, including if Border Services is worried they won’t appear for future immigration hearings, if they think they may be violent, or if they need to confirm identity. The detention centres themselves are quite controversial, but advocates agree that increasing mental health care is a good step forward, especially considering the trauma already likely experienced by detained individuals: "Going straight into a jail — in particular if the trauma that you’ve suffered in your country had to do with abuse or persecution at the hands of authorities — is traumatic for anybody,“ said Vancouver immigration lawyer Peter Edelmann.

What is the 22 Pushup Challenge? Raising Awareness for Veteran’s Suicide Prevention – Inc.
August 17, 2016
Not unlike the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, the 22 Pushup Challenge is another viral campaign that encourages people to record themselves doing 22 pushups, nominate someone else to participate, and upload their video to social media. The purpose of this challenge is to draw attention to the fact that 22 American veterans die by suicide every single day. The campaign is an initiative of 22Kill, a "global movement created by veterans.”

New support group connects Nunavut ‘suicide survivors’ in Iqaluit – CBC
August 15, 2016
The Embrace Life Council in Nunavut is organizing a bereavement support group in Iqaluit; a support group for those who have lost someone to someone. Joanasie Akumalik, who lost his son to suicide, found that sharing his story was very helpful, “I think my story provided openness for others to start speaking about what kind of hardship they went through,” said Akumalik. The first meeting was held last Tuesday. 

Kate Middleton is launching podcast on children’s mental health – Harper’s Bazaar
August 15, 2016
Known advocate for mental health Duchess Kate Middleton has launched a podcast on children’s mental health with BBC Radio 4.