Weekly News Roundup Oct. 4-10, 2021
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:
Protesters outside N.L. jail call for better care for prisoners after inmate suicide – Toronto Star
October 10, 2021
A demonstration was held in St. John’s demanding better mental health and addictions care for those incarcerated within Newfoundland and Labrador’s correctional system. There have been six deaths in the system since 2017 to initiate an investigation or review. Most are thought to be suicides. Inmate advocates say that most inmates end up in prison because of drug addiction or mental health issues and they do not receive proper treatment. This leaves them especially vulnerable to suicide.
Outpouring of support for Carey Price as sports shifts away from mental illness stigma – CBC News
October 8, 2021
All-star Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is receiving overwhelming support and encouragement on social media as he announced he was entering the NHL player assistance program for undisclosed reasons. It is a sign that there may be lessened stigma toward issues like mental illness than in the past. However, Dr. Gordon Bloom, sports psychology professor at McGill University, feels there is still mental health stigma in sports but hopes a player of Price’s stature seeking help will inspire “others to do the same”.
New program brings mental health supports to University of Guelph campus – CBC News
October 7, 2021
The University of Guelph is launching a new program in collaboration with Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo-Wellington which pairs mental health workers with campus police when responding to distress calls on campus. It is a one-year pilot project and is called Integrated Mobile Police and Crisis Team (IMPACT). The IMPACT program has already been used extensively by the Waterloo Regional Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police.
Suicide prevention needs department cooperation, experts tell inquest – Nunatsiaq News
October 7, 2021
An inquest into the 2016 police-shooting death of Charles Qirngnirq revealed that the man had made suicidal comments prior to his shooting. The final witness in the inquest, Victoria Madsen, who is the acting assistant deputy of quality of life and mental health and addiction with the Government of Nunavut, says that progress has been made in the area of mental health since Qirngnirq’s death in 2016. However, she says there needs to be “more inter-departmental cooperation on addressing the root causes of suicide is needed to help prevent future deaths in the territory”. The inquest was held to establish recommendations to prevent similar deaths as Qirngnirq.
Blackfalds Bulldogs and Olds Grizzlies to benefit from mental health program – Red Deer Advocate
October 6, 2021
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)- Central Alberta Region, with support from the NHL Foundation and Fifth Line Foundation, will offer Talk Today to hockey players on the Blackfalds Bulldogs and the Olds Grizzlies. CMHA calls Talk Today one of the “most comprehensive mental health programs for amateur sports in Canada”. It includes training in suicide prevention through safeTalk, a world-renowned suicide prevention training workshop.
A year after declaring state of emergency, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation continues push for healing lodge – CBC News
October 4, 2021
The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in southwestern Manitoba declared a state of emergency in 2020 after four community members had died by suicide. They asked for funding to hire four more mental health workers and build a healing lodge to help with the crisis. They have received $141, 000 from Indigenous Services. However, this was a sum promised before an emergency was declared and is distinct from the additional funding that addresses last year’s crisis. They are still waiting on this money. Because of the shortfall, the community has been relying on help from Manitoba Keewatinowi Obimakanak.
Children hit hard by COVID-19 need mental health support, UN report warns – Global News
October 4, 2021
The United Nations Children’s Fund says its study, State of the world’s children, is the most “comprehensive look” at children and mental health so far in the 21st century. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemics and its associated lockdowns on young people’s mental health may take years to fully appreciate.
‘We’ve been through a lot’: Calgary Counselling Centre offers free mental health wellness tool – CTV News
October 3, 2021
The Calgary Counselling Centre (CCC) offered an online self-assessment tool that focuses on depression from October 4 to October 10. This coincided with its National Depression Screening Day initiative.