World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) - September 10, 2010

Every September 10th people and communities across Canada and throughout the world come together to show their support for suicide prevention and for those whose lives have been affected by suicide. Suicide is preventable and requires every person’s participation. Any one of us could play a part in helping to save a life. This year the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) has chosen as its World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) theme, “What do you know, What Do you need to know? What you know could save a life.”.  During World Suicide Prevention week CASP in partnership with “Living Works” is urging all Canadians to take time to learn about suicide, the warning signs and what to do. 

CASP is encouraging all communities to organize events that; commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day, remember those who have died by suicide, support those who grieve, reduce stigma and draw attention to this important public health issue. In order to assist communities with their WSPD activities CASP has prepared posters that can be adapted to reflect the activities and events you have planned. CASP has also developed suicide awareness resource material that can be downloaded from our website or ordered and shipped to you. Space has been left on this material so that your community can include information pertaining to local resources such as crisis/distress lines. This material includes; a post card size handout that reviews warning signs and what to do and also a pamphlet for service organizations on how to be suicide safer and support suicide prevention. CASP will also prepare sample press releases and letters to the editor for you to use and adapt for your purposes. These will also be available on CASP’s website.

CASP is pleased to have Living Works as a partner in this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day and to inform you  that Living Works is offering a special incentive for this year’s WSPD.  For information on this Living Works offer please visit their new website at www.livingworks.net.

CASP in partnership with survivor groups has produced a special pin that commemorates suicide prevention, suicide loss, the strength and resilience of survivors and hope. These pins, which blend the CASP logo with that of a ribbon, are available for purchase through CASP and can be used by community groups to promote suicide awareness in their community and for fundraising.  PINS can be purchased for $2.50 each.

CASP has once again used the image of a Kite to commemorate WSPD. The image of a kite is rich with symbolism and meaning. A Kite can represent those who have died by suicide and our connection to them, our ability to heal and hope. This message of hope is central to our message and all that we do.

We are also urging all Canadians to continue their efforts to impress upon our Members of Parliament and the Government of Canada to move forward on a national suicide prevention strategy. In spite of the recommendation of both the WHO and U.N. Canada remains one of the few industrialized and G 8 countries that still has no national suicide prevention strategy. You can demonstrate your support for a national strategy by calling or writing your MP, signing CASP’s e-petition at http://nspscnd.epetitions.net or mail in a post card to the Minister of Health.  Post cards can be downloaded from the CASP website or ordered through our national office casp@casp-acps.ca.

Also on September 10th CASP will officially launch its new website and we invite you to visit us again and take a look at our new format.  We welcome your feedback and suggestions.

On behalf of CASP’s Board of Directors we would like to express our gratitude for all your support and wish you all the best for your WSPD activities. We would also like to invite you to become a member of CASP if you are not one already.  CASP receives no public funding and relies entirely on membership fees and donations.

Sincerely,

Tim Wall, Executive Director CASP; Marion Cooper, President; Joan Seabrook, Vice President

Click to Download the WSPD Poster.