Weekly News Roundup – October 25-31, 2016
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:
Talking suicide prevention in a land of deep wounds and shattered hearts – Nunatsiaq Online
Oct. 28, 2016
This past week CSP was privileged to attend and present at the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention (CASP) annual conference, which this year took place in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The focus of this years conference was hope, help and healing.
Fifth indigenous girl commits suicide this month in northern Sask, leading to calls for government help – Canadian Press on National Post
Oct. 28, 2016
Yet another girl, 13-years-old, died by suicide in northern Saskatchewan last week.Her death follows that of four others in the region that took place just one week before. Grief counsellors were brought in to help the communities cope with the crisis, and last week Health Canada said more mental health and health care workers were being sent to the communities that requested them.
Counsellor says more funding needed at Sask. First Nation after teen’s suicide – CBC
Oct. 28, 2016
After a fifth girl has died by suicide in the region of northern Saskatchewan in just two weeks, Barry Chalifoux, a counsellor at a nearby school, says that the community needs government funding to expand its suicide prevention and social support services, which could potentially expand youth programs to weekends, when youth are most vulnerable.
Attawapiskat without permanent mental heatlh workers, months after suicide crisis – CBC
Oct. 26, 2016
After declaring a state of emergency due to an extremely high number of suicides 6 months ago, Attawapiskat still needs permanent mental health resources.Currently, there are only temporary mental health workers in Attawapiskat, including two nurses and two crisis workers, but permanent supports are needed. Apparently lack of housing is the issue, as the community is waiting for the ice road in the winter to bring up modular homes to house the workers.
Nunavik’s suicide prevention conference imparts healing, self-care – Nunatsiaq Online
Oct. 26, 2016
Grief and healing were front and centre at the 2nd annual suicide prevention conference in Nunavimmiut. The conference, hosted this year by the Regional Suicide Prevention Committee, took place Oct. 17-23, and led participants in how to begin the path of healing after the loss of a loved one by suicide.
Facebook’s revamped safety measures aim to prevent suicides – Slate
Oct. 26, 2016
Facebook’s “Safety Centre” hosts many resources to help “keep you safe” including a listing of suicide hotlines from across the world, and a “Bullying Prevention Hub.” Facebook recently updated the Safety Centre, making it available in over 50 languages and improving the reporting tool that lets users flag concerning posts, such as those that indicate suicidality.
4 suicides inside New Brunswick jails in 14 years – CBC
Oct. 25, 2016
A CBC investigation has revealed that four inmates of New Brunswick provincial jails have taken their own lives in the past 14 years. “One suicide is too many,” said Christa Baldwin, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick.”So how do we find a better way for people that require treatment for mental illness to get that prior to getting to the point of prison time?” Family members of those lost to suicide in the prisons say that because of inquests into some of the suicide deaths, further safety measures should have been taken to prevent the deaths that followed.
Editorial: First responders being hit harder than ever by PTSD, and they need help– Globe and Mail
Oct. 25, 2016
Roughly 1,500 active and 2,500 retired RCMP members are receiving disability benefit for the treatment of PTSD, which shows that stigma is slowly being reduced and that people feel comfortable coming forward about their issues and receiving help. This editorial argues, however, “the health consequences of PTSD can be calamitous – suicide rates are high – and the resources to deal with the problem are not keeping up with the surging demand. As it stands, the federal and provincial health systems are not equipped to get first responders the help they urgently need.”
Amid suicide crisis, Nunavut MLA wants more traditional Inuit counselling – CBC
Oct. 24, 2016
MLA Isaac Shooyook, who himself has been bereaved by suicide, is recommending that Nunavut employ more traditional Inuit knowledge, including input from Inuit Elders, when addressing the epidemic of suicide happening in the region.
Photographer uses lens to expose issues facing Fort Albany youth – CBC
Oct. 24, 2016
Nick Kozak photographed the Fort Albany reserve in northern Ontario this past summer, in an attempt to “shed light on the issues facing youth in remote First Nations.” Among his subjects was Garrett Tomagatick, a 13-year-old boy who took his life October 15.
Horrific court cases can lead to PTSD for lawyers, jurors – Global
Oct. 24, 2016
Eginhart Ehlers “spent three years dealing with evidence relating to sex crimes… wading through reams of graphic text messages and photos and hearing heart-wrenching testimony from victims” when defending his client. The experience, he said, has taken an emotional toll on him. Dr. Katy Kamkar of CAMH said that jurors, lawyers, and judges involved in horrific court cases could very well be at-risk for PTSD.
Here’s how Instagram’s new self-harm and suicide reporting system works – The Mighty
Oct. 24, 2016
Instagram has just released a new feature that allows users to report posts that contain concerning images or messages that may indicate self-harm or suicidal ideation. Instagram has also included a listing of mental health resources on the app, when certain keywords like “suicide, depression, self-harm” are searched for.
Nova Scotia suicides and suicide attempts up by 74%, stats show – CBC
Oct. 18, 2016
Nova Scotia’s Department of Health and Wellness is indicating a 74% increase in suicides and suicide attempts, but this increase is due to better data keeping, and not an actual increase in incidents. Some measures that led to better data keeping included a strengthened relationship with police, who provide suicide data to the department. Capturing suicide data is complex, though, as “Unlike most other categories of serious reportable incidents, which occur inside hospitals and clinics, suicide statistics capture any patient, including outpatients, who have received psychiatric care in the past year.”