Weekly News Roundup Jan. 6 – 12, 2024

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Spin bikes will take over the Ranchman’s dance floor soon – Daily Hive
January 4, 2024
YYC Cycle partnered with Ranchman’s in Calgary last week to host two spin classes, the proceeds of which will come to Centre for Suicide Prevention. The classes took place as part of a six-hour event on Sunday, Jan. 14.
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National suicide prevention helpline getting around 1,000 calls per day: CAMH – Global News
January 12, 2024
Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline, available through three-digit dialing via 9-8-8 as of November 30, 2023, is receiving around 1,500 calls and texts per day since the launch. Data isn’t available for how frequently emergency services have been required to intervene, however, according to a statement from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, who leads Suicide Crisis Helpline, “Responders are trained to try all possible ways of supporting the person reaching out before referring them to emergency services. If a responder does end up referring someone to emergency services, they will continue to offer them support throughout this process.” Following the launch of the helpline, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya’ara Saks said, “We know that since COVID, that mental health of so many of our young people and Canadians has been such a challenge and to be able to have a low-barrier access, three-digit number that is nationwide, that can meet people exactly where they are when they need it, is critical.”

Meta to hide posts about suicide, eating disorders from teens’ Instagram and Facebook feeds – CTV News
January 9, 2024
Meta, the company that owns Instagram and Facebook, says that it will begin to hide inappropriate content, such as posts about suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders, from the accounts of teenagers. They will also block teens from searching  for terms that might be harmful.  “We want teens to have safe, age-appropriate experiences on our apps,” Meta said. Meta is currently facing several law suits from US states, accusing Meta of harming young people and knowingly contributing to the youth mental health crisis by making its platforms deliberately addictive.

Pregnancy-Linked Depression Raises Odds for Suicide Years After Delivery – HealthDay
January 9, 2024
**Method warning** A new Swedish study has found that risk of depression is increased for many years following pregnancy, not just in the months after. The study found that, after a diagnosis of perinatal depression (depression just before, during, or after pregnancy), suicide risk increases seven times. From five to 18 years following the birth of a child, risk of suicide remains two times higher for people with perinatal depression. Researchers “suggest that vigilant clinical monitoring and interventions are needed for (people diagnosed with postpartum) vulnerable population to prevent such devastating events.”