Suicide is a topic not many feel comfortable talking about.
However, more than 500 people in British Columbia die by suicide each year.
Although suicide is a leading cause of death for youth aged 15-24, the impact of suicide is actually greater among older people.
Learning how to talk about suicide is one of the ways to help prevent it.
This is why the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is bringing the Community Gatekeeper program to 100 Mile House.
Community Gatekeepers are people in a community who have been trained to recognize when someone could be at risk of suicide, and they will talk with them, help them keep safe, and connect them to community supports and resources.
“Community Gatekeeper training offers simple, life-saving, suicide intervention skills that anyone can, and should, learn,” says Kathy Provost, mental health worker and assist trainer at CMHA-South Cariboo.
“Much like first aid, having the knowledge, skills and confidence to help someone at risk can be the difference between life and death.”
Community Gatekeeper training follows curriculum shown to be effective at increasing knowledge, skill and willingness to intervene, as well as helping reduce the risk of suicide.
More than 100,000 people in 30 countries attend similar training each year. Across British Columbia, CMHA is working to train 20,000 Community Gatekeepers during the next three years, Provost explains.
“Our goal is to make 100 Mile House a safer place to live. Community Gatekeepers are in the unique position of being able to help prevent suicide and save lives in our community.
“Not just as first responders, but as elders, teachers, clergy and coaches. We’d like to help train people in every workplace, organization and the community at large.”
CMHA-South Cariboo is hosting a Community Gatekeeper training session on June 16 and 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room at 100 Mile District General Hospital.
To learn more or register, contact Provost at 250-395-4883 or 250-945-9515.
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CMHA is Canada’s most established mental health charity and the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health.
CMHA helps people access the resources they need to maintain and improve mental health, build resilience and support recovery from mental illness.
Each year in B.C. alone, CMHA serves more than 100,000 people all across the province.
For mental health and addiction information and resources, visit www.cmha.ca.
