September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day

Kim Matheson

September 10, 2021

SHARE THIS PAGE

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), a day to raise awareness about suicide and to focus on prevention and healing. Today is a day you can:

Help to understand suicide and risk factors that lead to suicide,
Explore resources to help yourself if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or
Help your community if anyone you know is showing concerning warning signs that may lead to suicide (see below).

Suicide has a profound effect on the world. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) advise that approximately 800,000 people die due to suicide globally, and that suicide is the third leading cause of death globally among 15 to 29-year-olds.

If you are, or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please know you/they do not have to be alone.

Some warning signs of suicide include:

Thinking or talking about suicide
Having a plan for suicide
Withdrawal from family, friends or activities
Feeling like you have no purpose in life or reason for living
Increasing substance use, like drugs, alcohol and inhalants
Feeling trapped or that there's no other way out of a situation
Feeling hopeless about the future or feeling like life will never get better
Talking about being a burden to someone or about being in unbearable pain
Anxiety or significant mood changes, such as anger, sadness or helplessness

Reaching out and sharing thoughts and feelings can:

Reduce stress and bring relief
Help you to work through feelings
Help make options become more clear
Help reduce isolation
Help you feel empowered
Help you understand your thoughts and feelings
Connect you with local and regional professional support

An important take-away is that there is help and you do not have to be alone. When you reach out to a resource below, you will be listened to without judgement and with intent to understand and support.

If you are feeling suicidal, or you know someone you might be, please get help:

Talk with a doctor, a therapist, a counselor, an Elder, or another trusted resource
Canada Suicide Prevention Service (anyone in Canada) at 1-833-456-4566 (toll free, 24/7) or text 45645 (1 pm – 9 pm PST)
Crisis Centre Chat (anywhere in BC) at 1-800-784-2433/1-800-SUICIDE (toll-free, 24/7, available in 140 languages using a language service)
Hope for Wellness Help Line (all Indigenous people) at 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or connect to the online Hope for Wellness chat
- On request, telephone counselling is also available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut
Kids Help Phone (ages 5-29) at 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868 (24/7)