September is Suicide Awareness Month. According to Statistics Canada, about 4,500 people die by suicide every year, which is around 12 people each day. Among young people (15-24), suicide is often reported to be in the top three leading causes of death. On Bayfm’s “The Plain Truth,” the guest was Sarah Power, who is the Regional Suicide Prevention Coordinator with NL Health Services-Western Zone. She says by talking about suicide safely and openly, it creates communities where people feel more comfortable.
Power says talking about suicide does not cause suicide and that is just a myth. She says rates of suicide fluctuate year to year in this province, but are higher than the rest of Canada and this highlights the importance of continuing to prioritize suicide prevention. A new term these days is “Life Promotion” and Power says it’s about strengthening the things that help people live, connect, cope, heal and find meaning. She says it looks beyond risk and asks how to strengthen someone’s reasons for living. Power says suicide prevention is not just the responsibility of the health care system but everyone’s responsibility to create communities where people feel seen and supported.
