Weekly News Roundup Feb 12-18, 2018
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:
Yellowknife teen aims to connect youth with mental-health resources – CBC
February 18, 2018
Devon Hodder, a Yellowknife high school student, started “Northern Minds,” a group that connects young people over Snapchat and helps them navigate the mental health system in the North. After his experience with accessing mental health services, Hodder founded the group to help others.
My mother took her own life – and now I know a different mental health approach could have saved her – Independent
February 17, 2018
In this opinion article the son of a mother who died by suicide discusses what he’s learned about how to care for those with mental health issues and suicidality since his mother’s passing. The article emphasizes the importance of compassion, social supports, and relationships.
Chinese couple sues federal government over son’s suicide – Toronto Star
February 17, 2018
The parents of Chinese immigrant Shiming Deng are suing the Canadian government for his suicide death. Deng struggled with mental illness and died by suicide in 2005, just hours after being issued a deportation order by the government. Deng spent time in a psychiatric hospital where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia the year before he was issued the order.
Rise in Toronto subway suicides takes a toll on TTC staff – Globe and Mail
February 12, 2018
A recent increase in suicide incidents on Toronto’s subway system have led to a corresponding increase in employee absenteeism. In December 2017, there were 8 suicide-related incidents, either fatalities or attempts, on the subway, in comparison to a ten-year average of 1.54 incidents in December. “Absenteeism was up in December and has been for five of the past six months,” TTC acting chief executive Rick Leary said in his monthly report, released two weeks ago. “Some long-term absences can be attributed to a spike in suicide events on the subway late last year. These are complex cases of trauma and employees receive support from all areas of the organization to assist in their recovery and ultimate return to work.”
How to avoid perpetuating stigma in the wake of suicide – SELF
February 12, 2018
This article discusses how to talk about suicide in a sensitive, responsible manner, so as to avoid stigmatizing the subject. It denounces comments that indicate that suicide is “taking the easy way out” and warned that comments like these could trigger those with suicidal thoughts. Instead the article suggests focusing on positive stories of recovery from suicidality, and encouraging help-seeking.