TORONTO FIRE SERVICES PEER SUPPORT NEWSLETTER
Message from the Editor… W
hile many people are prepared for and are accepting of death, there’s no easy way to relay death to anyone, and especially not in a situation where death results from suicide. More and more, we hear and read about people dying as a result of suicide; succumbing to their life challenges that have become an ordeal to cope with. Age, gender and culture are irrelevant. The harsh reality happens and in many cases it is unsuspecting. Suicide is no stranger to us in the TFS either, having lost a few of our own over the last several years. Interesting Canadian statistics are displayed in this article, according to age and province. What may be familiar to many of us is that three times as many men attempt suicide and most often succeed as a result of the nature of their sure and
FALL EDITION 2011
immediate methods, ie. hanging, jumping, firearms. Women on the other hand attempt self-injury later in life and through drug overdose. Reasons range from ill health to aging to loneliness to being a burden to family/others. Continue reading for further statistics, information on who is at risk, and if you ever question whether someone may be suicidal, some prevalent recognizable characteristics which may surface. If someone you know speaks of suicide or you suspect someone may be at risk of suicide, ensure their safety – if they are not in your presence, keep them on a phone until you can reach them in person. As always, being well is the first ounce of prevention, so if you experience symptoms, get help! Be well, Lynn Pezzelato
2011 CONTACT LIST CIS/EAP TEAM
416-338-9327 dmorley@toronto.ca
David Morley - Manager
South (Station 331/B) 416-338-9331
John Drimmie - Manager
East (Station 223/C) 416-338-9223
johndrimmie@torontofirefighters.org
905-903-2574 (cell)
Lynn Pezzelato
PD&T (North) 416-338-9109
lpezzela@toronto.ca
647-409-3135 (cell)
East (Station 233/D) 416-338-9233
cstather@toronto.ca
647-409-2633 (cell)
Kevin Scragg
South (Station 331/D) 416-338-9331
kscragg@mac.com
647-405-2562 (cell)
Gordon Thomson
PD&T (North) 416-338-8796
gthomso@toronto.ca
416-262-6933 (cell)
Heather Forbes
West (Station 433/D) 416-338-9433
hfforbes@hotmail.com
416-436-7295 (cell)
Samantha Hoffmann
North (Station 121) 416-338-9188
shoffman@toronto.ca
Hugh Donnelly
Chaplain Co-ordinator, EAST Command
905-898-7893 (H) 416-550-1854 (c) 416-540-2859 (work cell) 416-450-8372 (cell)
Todd Riley
Chaplain, WEST Command
tsriley@primus.ca
David King
Chaplain, NORTH Command
rural.personnel@bayofquinteconference.c a sulkingcot@cogeco.ca
Barry Parker
Chaplain, SOUTH Command
bparker@stpaulsbloor.org
Cary Stather - Mentor
CIS/EAP PHONE
416-338-9327
Communications
416-338-9001
416-723-8374 (cell)
chrishoffmann1965@hotmail.com
hughdonnelly@rogers.com
416-318-9167 (cell) 416-236-8801 (w) 416-723-8375 (cell)
416-271-7540 (cell) 416-961-8116 x224 (w)
Last Updated: Dec 10 - 2010
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