The co-host of 100 Huntley Street brought a message of hope to the 10th annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at the Parkland Pavilion on Tuesday.
Rev. Ron Mainse drew about 400 people from across Central Alberta. Mayors, councils, church groups and residents attended the early morning event.
“There’s a lot of hurt happening recently in Red Deer with young people taking their own lives,” said Mainse.
In January, the ministry released Helping you and your friends to live, a resource book aimed at debunking suicide myths, creating awareness and providing warning signs. There’s even a chapter on bullying featuring Amanda Todd’s story. The Coquitlam, B.C., teen killed herself in 2012 after suffering the effects of bullying for several years.
Mainse said the book is geared for young people to help friends who may be contemplating suicide get help.
“Yes, there is hope,” said Mainse. “Just to open the conversation because young people are hurting. They need to feel the love and the acceptance of people around them.”
Mayor Morris Flewwelling acknowledged there has been a lot of hurt in the community over the rash of youth suicides over the last 12 months in Red Deer.
“One suicide is too many,” said Flewwelling. “We know the rate of suicide in youth is increasing.”
Flewwelling said there is difficulty in recognizing the symptoms and the community needs to dig deep to find ways to help prevent suicide. He said many of the suicides stem from bullying, cyberbullying and gender identification.
“Up until now our collective thinking has been we should not talk about it or in anyway acknowledge it,” said Flewwelling. “In an earlier time, that may have worked.”
Flewwelling said in today’s world of personalized technology and media coverage, there’s no way around this serious issue.
“We can’t play ostrich and put our heads in the sand and say it just isn’t happening,” said Flewwelling. “(Now) there’s a heightened awareness. Hopefully this heightened awareness will result in heightened action.”
The annual breakfast is organized by the Business Leaders Network.
Red Deer will be highlighted on an edition of 100 Huntley Street this week. For more information on the show or the resource book, go to www.100huntley.com.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com