Hope Blooms
Suicide Prevention Initiatives
Hope isn’t fragile. It’s fierce.
Stubbornly, it pushes up through cracks.
What is the issue?
Suicide is one of the top 10 causes of death in Canada. It’s a serious public health problem with lasting, harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities.
Evidence has indicated that one of the most common risk factors for suicide is a diagnosis of a mental health problem or illness.
Fortunately, programs and strategies are available that can make a difference.
What are we doing?
As part of our ongoing commitment to life promotion and suicide prevention, we have created a range of evidence-based resources.
A Community-led Suicide Prevention Project, Roots of Hope builds on community expertise to implement suicide interventions tailored to local contexts. Through this project, we are building an evidence base that includes best practices, guidelines, and tools to support the development of a suicide prevention model across the country.
Learning Modules
A free course designed to equip health care providers with the skills and confidence to have conversations with patients about suicide (accredited for continuing professional development). Developed by the MHCC, in partnership with the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) and HealthCareCAN.
Toolkits
Developed by the MHCC, in collaboration with the CASP, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and an advisory committee of people with lived experience related to suicide, these toolkits offer a repository of resources to support people who have been impacted by suicide.
Toolkits
Developed in collaboration with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, provides a high-level overview of what health-care workers and organization need to consider when using suicide risk assessment tools. It also highlights and describes a range of available tools.
Webinars
A repository of webinars on suicide prevention, life promotion, intervention, and the community response to suicide (postvention).
What are we doing?
Developed through a partnership with us and the Centre for Suicide Prevention, these fact sheets provide information on suicide.
Bullying is related to negative psychological, emotional and behavioural outcomes. These outcomes can eventually make youth feel as though they can no longer cope (Wade & Beran, 2011).
Injury prevention aims to reduce harm and increase safety for individuals, families and communities. There are two types of injury: intentional and unintentional.
Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an approach that asks: “What happened to you?” as opposed to “What is wrong with you?” (Rosenberg, 2011).
People 65 years and older, especially men, have a high risk of suicide. As Canada’s largest population group, the baby boomers, approach the plus 65 age range, we may see an increase in suicide in years to come (Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH), 2009; Van Orden & Deming, 2017).
LGB people face stressors that are unique, including the experience of discrimination and institutional prejudice. Studies and surveys have shown many LGB people have thought about or attempted suicide, and previous behaviours such as these are the most reliable indicators of future suicide risk (Suicide Prevention Resource Center [SPRC] & Rodgers, 2011).
The impacts of the pandemic are more pronounced among marginalized groups (i.e., Indigenous people, people with disabilities, racialized groups, people who identify as 2SLGBTQ+), those with a pre-existing mental health condition, younger people, women, parents with children under 18, and those with high levels of exposure to COVID-19 (i.e., front-line and health-care workers).
Middle-aged men (40 to 60) die by suicide more than anyone, including young people and women (Statistics Canada, 2019). Men are often socialized not to talk about their emotions. As a result, men as a group may mask their stress and deal with emotional pain through harmful behaviours and actions, and sometimes suicide, instead of seeking help (Ogrodniczuk & Oliffe, 2011).
Farming and ranching are considered two of the most stressful occupations, both physically and mentally. Unique factors associated with agricultural work may contribute to poor mental health outcomes and even suicide. In Canada, producers (farmers and ranchers) are especially prone to mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety, and they may have less resiliency because of the stressors they experience (Jones-Bitton et al., 2020). While much of the research on resiliency focuses on farmers specifically, some of the factors farmers face are similar to what other producers may face.
Young people face significant internal and external stressors, including social, physiological, and neurological change. Being an adolescent can involve many challenges. When facing them, some may feel trapped and need support to help them see hope for the future. Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts are key warning signs. If young people show these signs, it is crucial to offer support and connect them to help as soon as possible (Bennett et al., 2015).
Suicide rates are higher in Canada’s rural areas (Hirsch & Cukrowicz, 2014; Barry et al., 2020). People there also experience poorer health, lower life expectancy, and are less likely to have their healthcare needs met (Eckert et al., 2004)
Suicide in Canada is an ongoing public health crisis. While it continues to be a high-ranking cause of death (which the COVID-19 pandemic may worsen), mental health and public health initiatives can help prevent it.
Research
A summary of current evidence and best practices as it relates to post-discharge followup after a suicide attempt.
Opioid use and suicide share many of the same risk factors and the same protective factors, addressing these factors can help prevent suicides and reduce the harms of opioid use.
A summary of current evidence as it relates to the potential impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health and suicide rates (including suicidal ideation, attempts, and death), risk and protective factors to monitor, and opportunities to influence trends in Canada.
Approximately 4,500 deaths by suicide occur in Canada every year. Data exist to explain differences between sexes and age groups regarding suicide patterns; however, our understanding of the specific experiences of diverse groups is lacking. Consequently, our knowledge of factors that impact risk of suicide and, in turn, effective suicide prevention approaches in African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities is limited. To improve our understanding of the experiences of ACB communities with suicide, this resource was co-created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada alongside a diverse group of people from ACB communities with lived and living experience (PWLLE) with suicide.
This policy brief outlines considerations for implementing a three-digit suicide prevention number in Canada. It reviews several relevant international contexts; specifically, the implementation of a three-digit suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline (988) in the United States (U.S.) and the recently approved 113 number in the Netherlands. The brief is based on the survey, informal interviews, and a scan of academic and grey literature. The considerations it explores include the accessibility and visibility of the service, the capacity of crisis centres, training and staffing standardization, funding and operating costs, and the three-digit number selection.
A literature summary aimed at building a shared Canadian research agenda on suicide and its prevention. Part of an ongoing initiative co-led by the MHCC and the PHAC.
A conversation tool to help caregivers, parents, and guardians understand how to speak with children in their lives suicide when a suicide happens in the community or if someone they know has died by suicide.
Safe Messaging and Conversations
This field guide, developed by the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, is designed to help media professionals write more complete stories and avoid contributing to mental health stigma. Among a range of updates in the third edition (2020) is guidance on creating more nuanced accounts related to suicide.
Developed in partnership with Orygen‘s world-class research team and young people, the #ChatSafe guidelines address the critical need for open dialogue while navigating sensitive topics and aim to reduce stigma, fear, and misinformation surrounding self-harm and suicide discussions online.