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Suicide prevention guide a lifeline for parents, youth Continued from page 1
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The goal is to build schools’ capacities to address mental health concerns and prevent suicides. The network will tackle that goal in three different ways. “It’s about building shepherds, not necessarily identifying weaknesses,” said Joanne Lowe, executive director of the Youth Services Bureau and co-chairwoman of the suicide prevention network. Young people are talking to each other about mental health issues and suicide, so arming them with useful information on how to react and how to connect their peers with resources is critical, Law said. First, the program will involve youth leaders in schools by training them to deliver mental-health programming to fellow students with a special focus on inclusion for gay, lesbian, bisexual, two-spirited and questioning students. Young people will also have access to Source of Strength training, which provides instruction for student leaders on how to engage and connect
with their social networks to promote the idea of seeking help and link their peers with caring adults. The training teaches young people how to see their challenges through a lens of awareness of the resources that are available to them when things get tough. “It’s an amazing, evidencebased program,” Lowe said. “It’s to build resilience within the school staff and a sense of acceptance for diversity within the schools. “It’s going to open a lot of doors,” she said. At the same time, the initiative will provide safeTALK training all staff members at the schools, as well as young people and parents. The training helps people assess suicide risk; make referrals to appropriate resources; and build awareness about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues and the effects of homophobia. The programming will eventually be offered to six Ottawa schools over the next three years, but it will get underway at the Glebe and West Carleton high schools in the
new year. A total of 2,511 students and 192 staff at both schools will take part in the program in 2014. Combining all three of those approaches will create a powerful effect of awareness in schools, said France Thibault, principal at the Glebe school. While many of her staff already has safeTALK training, the new program will make that education and those values universal. “The teachers are very excited to take it,” Thibault said. “They want to help kids,” added Reg Lavergne, principal at West Carleton Secondary School. The project is particu-
larly exciting for schools and school boards because it will strengthen their connections to community partners, Lavergne said. SUICIDE PREVENTION REPORT CARD
The Community Suicide Prevention Network got underway in 2010 and this year marked the first time it provided a report on its activities. With a simple goal of preventing suicides in the community, the network brings together a number of local groups to build awareness and capacity to tackle suicide. The network held Ottawa’s
first summit on youth suicide in February of 2012 to support recognition of what members of the community can do to respond to young people in mental health crisis. A suicide prevention day was also declared on Sept. 10. The network also produced a guide called Know What To Do, which discusses how to react and offer help when a young person is having suicidal thoughts. The guide is available by calling 613-7290577 ext. 1252 and the information is also posted at facebook.com/preventingsuicide. A “lifeline” for parents and families was also set up. Offered 20 hours a week, the
service provides access to “family navigators” who can consult with families that don’t know where to turn in a mental health crisis. The Parents’ Lifelines of Eastern Ontario can be contacted at pleo.on.ca or by calling 613-321-3211. Mental health resources:
• Youth 24/7 crisis line: 613-260-2360 • Crisis line for adults aged 16+: 613-722-6914 If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, attend the emergency room of any local hospital.
(613) 225-0982
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Joanne Lowe, executive director of the Youth Services Bureau and co-chairwoman of the Community Suicide Prevention Network, speaks at a Dec. 6 event reporting on the network’s activities and launching a new program in local high schools.
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Orléans News EMC - Thursday, December 19, 2013