Weekly News Roundup – July 5-10, 2017
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:
Panel implores military to adopt more suicide-prevention resources – Globe and Mail
July 6, 2017
The Canadian Armed Forces have approved all 11 recommendations made in the Report of the 2016 Mental Health Expert Panel on Suicide Prevention in the Canadian Armed Forces, released last Thursday. Among the recommendations: hire a suicide prevention coordinator, responsible for reviewing factors that contribute to suicide and identifying gaps in mental health services and strategies. “This is a priority for both departments (National Defense and Veterans Affairs),” said Colonel Rakesh Jetly, co-chairman of the expert group and senior psychiatrist with the military’s directorate of mental health.
Northern Ontario First Nations grieve four lost to suicide – Toronto Star
July 6, 2017
Alvin Fiddler, Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, spoke out about the suicide deaths of two children, one teen, and a young man in his communities. “It’s been very shocking for all of us,” said Fiddler. “We want any kind of support from outside resources, especially government agencies. We want them to recognize the situation that we’re in, and the lack of resources we have.”
Lack of follow-up visits a factor in increase in suicide rates, study shows – Washington Times
July 6, 2017
A new study recommends that access to long-term mental health care and support is necessary for those who have been admitted to hospital for suicidal behaviour. “The immediate postdischarge period is a time of marked risk,” the author’s wrote in the conclusion, “but rates of suicide remain high for many years after discharge.”
Suicide rates higher among US farmers, farmworkers: study – Safety and Health Magazine
July 5, 2017
A recently published study in the Journal of Rural Health has found that farmers and other farm staff are at a higher risk for suicide than workers in other industries. Factors such as financial anxiety, isolation, physical pain and inferior health care contribute to the higher rates of suicide. Learn more about how the workplace impacts suicide risk in our latest toolkit: The workplace and suicide prevention.
Remote NWT turning to community meetings to heal in suicide crisis – APTN
July 5, 2017
Fort Simpson, NWT has experienced several suicides in the past few months, and now they’re working together to help heal and take action. “Just from my own view people react but then time goes on it doesn’t seem that the community was garnering enough action to get things done. This last one has hit a vulnerable population. We have to make an action plan and keep on top of it because we cannot afford to lose any more of our people,” said Darlene Sibbeston, mayor of Fort Simpson.
What happened to Lionel Desmond? An Afghanistan veteran whose war wouldn’t end – Globe and Mail
June 19, 2017
This feature piece tells the story of Lionel Desmond, the Canadian Forces veteran who killed himself and his wife, daughter, and mother in January. Desmond was diagnosed with PTSD upon returning from the war in Afghanistan, and is one of over 70 soldiers and vets who have died by suicide after returning from that war.