Every 40 seconds, someone around the globe dies by suicide. In 2007, 42 Waterloo Region residents died by suicide. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP,) declared September 10th World Suicide Prevention day. Why raise awareness? Because death by suicide may often be a preventable death, and an estimated 3,000 – 4,000 people throughout the world take their own lives every single day. That’s more lives than are consumed by war and homicide.
Here are a few things you can do to raise awareness, and show support for the prevention of suicide:
VISIT VICTORIA PARK TONIGHT, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT SUICIDE PREVENTION – The Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council (WRSPC) is hosting a free Community Butterfly Release at Victoria Park Pavilion in Kitchener, Ontario from 5pm – 7:30pm, tonight. This event includes an:
- Information fair
- BBQ
- Butterfly release
- Two guest speakers including MP Harold Albrecht
- Music
- Click here to see a schedule of events
LIGHT A CANDLE – At 8pm tonight, light a candle (or preferably use a battery-operated candle) in your window to show your support for Suicide Prevention, and to remember those who have succumbed to suicide, and those affected by the significant loss of knowing someone who has died by suicide.
SIGN THE PETITION – At the bottom of the WRSPC website is a link to a printable petition where you, your friends, family, and neighbours, have the opportunity to sign a petition that, when mailed to the House of Commons in Ottawa, Ontario, will help plead the case that suicide can be a preventable death, and the cost of complacency is high. We need our government to equip us to do more, to make resource information more accessible to those in a crisis, and to educate individuals about suicide prevention.
Thank you to everyone who has, and continues, to support myself and others in the journey of surviving our deep loss by suicide, and for helping us raise awareness simply by sharing these links and articles with others.
