Suicide is a major, sometimes hidden, public health concern in Canada.
Pain, fear and despair overwhelm hope. It is almost always preventable through caring, compassion, commitments and community. Preventing suicides and supporting those who have experienced a loss is what what we need to know.
We are Canadians working to reduce suicide and its impact in Canada. We want to end the silence. We want to ease the suffering, to heal our communities and our neighbours, as we have healed ourselves. We are survivors of loss. Among us, we have lost children, parents, family member, neighbours, friends, patients. We want to end the silence and prevent others from experiencing such loss.
The CASP Blueprint for Canadian National Suicide Prevention Strategy was prepared by the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention with other organizations and individuals. Many countries have developed national strategies to reduce suicide, often with the leadership of Canadian experts. Why was Canada so slow in moving forward on this most pressing of public health issues?
“The Canadian Association For Suicide Prevention (CASP)congratulates the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)on the launch this week of its long anticipated national mental health strategy. This is a landmark event for Canada and represents a herculean effort that involved consultations with thousands of stakeholders across Canada. CASP was honoured and grateful to be among the many groups that the MHCC included throughout this process. This important document will play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of mental health in Canada and informing the efforts of communities across Canada to address the stigma of mental illness, and enhancing the capacity of all Canadians to experience optimal levels of mental health, flourish and be resilient in the face of life’s many challenges and struggles. CASP urges the government of Canada to accept the recommendations outlined in the strategy and make the called for investments so that the strategy can be fully implemented. CASP remains committed to working with its many partners including the MHCC to prevent suicides in Canada and reduce Canada’s alarming suicide rate. Suicide remains a critical public and community health priority. CASP is pleased to see that the mental health strategy has included some components of suicide prevention, intervention and post vention within their strategy. While the mental health strategy makes important contributions to addressing certain specific elements of suicide prevention by itself it does not represent a comprehensive national approach to suicide prevention. Canada remains in desperate need of a comprehensive national suicide prevention strategy. CASP and its many allies will continue to advocate for a national suicide prevention strategy.”
