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By Chris Brown & Chantal Wagner

Information, awareness and training

Local CMHA receiving more than $220,000 to increase suicide prevention supports

Oct 28, 2020 | 11:23 AM

The local Canadian Mental Health Association is receiving more than $220,000 from the provincial government to increase access to quality suicide prevention information, awareness and training programs.

Funding for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Alberta Southeast Division will support the delivery of the SafeTalk, Straight Talk and Tattered Teddies workshops, says the government in a news release. These are free workshops offered to anyone interested in learning about the warning signs of suicide among adults, youth and children. In addition, a skills-based suicide prevention training program for the general community will be offered.

CMHA programs manager Erin Reeder says to start, they will also be hiring a six-month full-time suicide prevention educator.

They already have a suicide prevention program at CMHA. However, that program is coordinated by one educator for all of southeastern Alberta.

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The CMHA also received money from the community foundation to hire a second suicide prevention educator.

Reeder says with the increased need for mental health help, the CMHA needs more staff to educate and support those impacted by suicide right now.

The organization will also raise awareness about available suicide prevention resources including Buddy Up, a suicide prevention campaign that encourages men to help each other and access services if they need them. And free suicide prevention workshops for the community, including online sessions.

As well, families already accessing bereavement supports through private counselling will receive support to continue accessing these services.

“We know that people who access their employee assistance programs only get a number of sessions that they can attend counselling, and so this money will help top that up,” Reeder added.

Medicine Hat has been rocked by a number of suicides in recent months.

“So really the most important thing is for family and friends to learn those warning signs and learn how to recognize somebody in their life who might be struggling. And to reach out and ask that question, are you thinking about suicide? And if we can all come together as a community and try and support everybody within the community by asking about suicide, that’s really one of the best prevention methods we can do,” Reeder said.

Reeder also thanked the community for supporting the CMHA as they received an outpouring amount of donations from the community in support of what’s occurring right now.

The province says collaboration between the two levels of government, Alberta Health Services, CHMA, school divisions, local police, and community groups has led to a variety of short- and long-term initiatives dedicated to raising awareness about available suicide prevention and mental health resources and how to access them.

READ MORE: Mental health help available and more supports coming for Medicine Hat

The CMHA also recently received $100,000 through the government’s COVID-19 community grant program to expand an addiction crisis program in Medicine Hat that offers outreach supports to adults and youth.

“Suicide is a preventable tragedy, support is available and there are always options. I am heartbroken for the community, and the friends and families who have lost loved ones,” says Jason Luan minister associate minister of mental health and addictions. “Alberta’s government has been actively engaged with AHS and local community agencies to ensure a coordinated response, and enhanced services are available to meet the needs.”

Luan said he also requested provincial data to see if there was an increase or decrease in suicides in the city.

Though he says the loss of one life is too many, statistically, these numbers are within the norm, and there has been no huge spike.

But the minister says this is a tragedy, and the government saw the need for more support in the city.

Last month, Luan also met with seven families in Medicine Hat who were affected by the suicides and heard their heartbreaking stories.

“I acknowledge the tragedy is huge and the impact on our community is real. But what ends up happening is we took that crisis as an opportunity to engage the community, to talk about suicide, suicide prevention, and to turn the tragedy into a legacy of how we can deal with grief in a way that more people are educated about this as the community becomes stronger and more resilient to prevent this from happening.”

Luan adds he got the news of the suicide tragedies in Medicine Hat during the summer when the local MLA alerted his office.

He assures that help is here and that there are always options available.

He also encourages calling the 2-1-1 help line.

The suicide prevention CMHA programs will be unveiled soon on the CMHA Facebook page.

To reach someone at the CMHA in Medicine Hat call 403-504-1811.

If you or someone you know is in crisis resources are available. In the case of an emergency dial 9-1-1. The Alberta Mental Health Help Line can be reached at 1-877-303-2642. The Kids Help Phone can be reached at 1-800-668-6868.