World Suicide Prevention Day

Group of people

World Suicide Prevention Day: September 10

Care, prepare, prevent. Small actions make a big difference.

It takes a community to prevent suicide. Most people thinking about suicide disclose their thoughts to someone they know. We can help our community be safe by developing our skills and knowledge to support someone considering suicide and develop a socially connected community where people have someone to turn to. Learn how to participate in suicide prevention by attending Suicide Prevention Day events.

Student Story

Xander is a fourth-year undergraduate student who has written about their experience with suicide.

Read Xander's story

Skill Building Opportunities

Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Training 

Free sessions are offered monthly through Wellness Supports

Register Here

Emotion Regulation Skills Group

Thursday’s beginning September 26-October 31

  • Facilitated by Counselling and Clinical Services in partnership with Alberta Health Services.
  • Time: 2:00-3:45, with optional skill building from 3:45-4:15
  • Location: In-person on the U of A North Campus
  • Register: Clients will have to attend an online information session to attend the group.
  • Cost: free

Sign up here for a information session

Events

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the Chill-Out Social on North Campus and La santé mentale, parlons-en! at Campus Saint-Jean. While this year's events are over, you can help continue to prevent suicide by connecting with people on campus, developing skills to help others and learning about supportive resources.

If you need help 

Suicide exists on a spectrum from having thoughts of suicide to having an active plan. Help is available no matter where a person is on that spectrum. It can feel hard to believe that there are other options, and asking for help can be difficult, but finding safe people to talk to is one of the best things you can do; you don’t have to face thoughts of suicide alone. 

If you have a plan or think you may attempt to kill yourself, get help right away:

  • Remove yourself from danger or (if safe) stay where you are.
  • Find someone to talk to. Reach out to a close friend, a loved one, a spiritual leader or someone else in your faith community.
  • Call a distress line or seek help from your doctor or other health care provider.
  • Slow your breathing and focus on the outbreath; name your senses, such as sight, taste, smell and touch to help you be present in the moment
  • You can get immediate support by calling or texting the following:
  • If you are out of the country and having thoughts of suicide, use this international directory to find a crisis line in your country.

Find additional supports

If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1- or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room.

If someone else needs help

Research shows that talking about suicide doesn’t increase the likelihood that someone will attempt. In fact, connecting with someone who cares can make a life-saving difference.

If you are concerned that someone is thinking about suicide, ask them directly:

  • “Are you thinking about suicide?” or
  • “Are you having thoughts of ending your life?”

If they tell you they are thinking about suicide, take time to find out if they have a plan:

  • Do they know when?
  • Do they know how? If yes, do they have the means on them? 
  • Do they know where?

Help connect them to appropriate resources that can provide care. This includes getting them to emergency services if they have consumed anything lethal or have immediate plans to act on their thoughts of suicide.

You can develop your skillset to help people with suicidal ideation through free training provided by Wellness Supports.

Tips for supporters

We don’t need to be a therapist to support friends, colleagues or students in our community who are thinking about suicide. Our support can be crucial for people needing additional support if they are thinking about suicide. These conversations are important. Supporters need care, too, to effectively be there for others. Know that our campus supports are available for you, too.

Tips: 

  • If you anticipate having a conversation about suicide, take time and practice some meaningful self-care to help you be present for the conversation. 
  • Not sure how to approach the conversation? Call the Distress Line 780-482-4357 (HELP) to talk the scenario through. 
  • Check-in with yourself after the discussion and assess what you might need. You can call a distress line to talk through the experience or consider reaching out to a trusted friend or family member. 
  • Supporting someone doesn't mean you are the only one who can help. In fact, this can be harmful to you and the person you’re concerned about. Don’t make promises to keep suicidal ideation a secret.  Instead, encourage them to think about who in their life they can reach out to and help them make those connections. 
  • Skill up and take the free mental health training available to you through the University.
  • Find support and information on care for caregivers https://alberta.cmha.ca/care-for-caregivers/

Struggling with a loss from suicide?

Losing someone you care about can be shocking and incredibly painful; the experience can be intense, complex and long-term. Working through grief is an extremely individual and unique process; you will need to find your own way at your own pace. Connect with resources that support you in making sense of what has happened and learn how to live with your loss. Campus and community resources, such as helplines and the Peer Support Centre, are also available for your support.