WELLINGTON COUNTY – The theme of this year’s Suicide Prevention Day, on Sept. 10, is ‘Work together to prevent suicide,’ and the Suicide Awareness Council of Wellington Dufferin has planned some physically distancing ways to mark the day.
“Our collective actions and words give a powerful voice to the difference each one of us, alone and together can make. We invite everyone to find at least one way to make a difference,” said Heather Glenister, coordinator of the local agency.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, approximately 11 people take their life each day. One third of the deaths are people between the ages of 45 and 59 and suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth and young adults between 15 and 24.
Help, hope and healing are possible, the agency says.
This year, events will be online. Here’s how to participate:
– join the council’s “What do you live for?” photo challenge. Connect on Facebook, Twitter (@SACWDCouncil) and Instagram (suicidecouncil_wd);
– light a candle and place it near a window at 8pm on Sept. 10. The candle is a beacon of caring and compassion;
– join the Mysterious Barricades for their virtual music tour on Sept. 10 at 7pm. The concert can be viewed at https://www.mysteriousbarricades.org; and/or
– join the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention webinar, ‘so you want to help me …’, a candid look at how talking about suicide can make a difference to someone experiencing suicidal thoughts. The webinar begins at 7pm on Sept. 10 and can be found at https://suicideprevention.ca/event-3956222.
