Suicide can be hard to talk about. Many of us know someone who has taken their own life or attempted to do so. Perhaps we also struggle with these thoughts or have considered harming ourselves in the past. It is so important to receive the necessary help, but too often this does not happen. It is estimated that over 4,000 Canadians die by suicide per year, showing just how much of a public health concern this is for our country. September marks Suicide Awareness month in Canada, with the primary focus being on reducing the stigma of asking for help and raising awareness of where to go if you need to speak to someone.
What are the warning signs?
Suicidal thoughts affect people of any gender, age, or background. An easy-to-use mnemonic device that can help assess for risk of suicide is: IS PATH WARM
I-Ideation: Thinking about suicide
S-Substance use: using or increasing the usage of alcohol or drugs
P-Purposelessness: feeling a lack of purpose in life or reason for living
A-Anxiety: unable to cope with intense feelings of anxiety
T- Trapped: feeling like there is no way out of a situation
H- Hopelessness or Helplessness: feeling no hope that things will get better
W-Withdrawal: isolation and avoiding family, friends, work, or activities
A-Anger: unreasonable feelings of anger
R-Recklessness: uncharacteristically participating in dangerous or risky activities
M-Mood change: significant fluctuations in mood
What if I think a loved one is contemplating suicide? Will asking about it make it worse?
If you believe someone close to you is having suicidal thoughts suicide prevention and awareness is important. They may welcome the chance to speak to you about it. There is a misconception that asking someone about suicide will give them the idea. This is not the case at all. Asking someone about suicide will not increase the likelihood of them trying to end their life but may mean the difference between making an attempt or not.
If someone expresses to you that they are thinking about suicide, it is important to ask them if they have a plan. As much as possible, stay calm and allow them to speak to you openly. If they have a plan and are speaking about it as if they intend to end their life soon, seek crisis support right away. There are several suicide hotline numbers available, but you can also call 9-1-1 if you don’t know who to call.
Where to find help
There are several supports available for suicide prevention. These are just a few that are available across Canada, B.C. and on Vancouver Island. You may also like to reach out to a local counsellor or clinic to ask about specific supports in your area.
- 9-8-8. Canada-wide suicide hotline available 24/7.
- 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
- Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789
- Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1-800-494-3888 or text 250-800-3806. Chat online at www.vicrisis.ca
- Helpline for Children: 310-1234
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
- Seniors Distress Line: 604-872-1234
- Online Chat Service for Youth: www.YouthInBC.com (Noon-1am)
- Online Chat Service for Adults: www.CrisisCentreChat.ca (Noon-1am)
- LGBTQ Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688
- Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366
- Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 (24-hour support for anyone experiencing pain or distress because of residential school experiences).
If you would like more information on suicide awareness and prevention, please reach out to any of our counsellors. Any of our staff would be able to support you in speaking about your own thoughts or provide more guidance on how to support a loved one with their mental health. We have counsellors in Duncan, Port Alberni and Nanaimo available to provide suicide prevention counselling.
Written by Cat Zydyk
References:
Canadian Mental Health Association. (2016, Feb. 28). Preventing suicide. https://cmha.ca/brochure/preventing-suicide/
Sayani, F. (2023, Sept.). Breaking stigmas, Saving lives. Mental Health Commission of Canada. https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/catalyst/breaking-stigmas-saving-lives/