Suicide is a topic that was once talked about in hushed tones and out of the realm of what is considered "mainstream."
Over the past few decades, thanks to efforts by organizations like the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Alberta Rural Mental Health Network and other groups and organizations, the topic of mental health in general, and suicide in particular, have become ones of more open conversation.
In Canada, and around the world, Sept. 10 marks World Suicide Prevention Day and to mark the occasion members of the Stettler chapter of the Alberta Rural Mental Health Project hosted a first-annual walk at West Stettler to raise awareness of this sensitive topic.
Chanel Annable, who specializes in health promotion with the newly-created Recovery Alberta, which now looks after mental health and addiction treatment in the province, helped organize the event and delivered some staggering facts about suicide in Canada.
Annable says that around 4,500 people every year choose to end their lives. That works out to around 12 people per day, with men being three times more likely to complete suicide than women.
However, Annable notes that help is available; in addition to a variety of private councillors and psychologists in the region, counselling can also be received at no charge through Stettler Mental Health. Additionally, the Alberta Communities Against Abuse offices on Main Street Stettler host free, walk-in counselling every Wednesday also through Recovery Alberta.
World Suicide Prevention Day was founded by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in 2003 and is co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the WHO website, more than 700,000 people take their lives every year with "far-reaching social, emotional and economic consequences."
