Every 40 seconds someone in the world dies by suicide. Every 41 seconds someone is left to make sense of it. Vancouver Island Crisis Society offers a workshop November 25, 2015 [image: istockphoto]
It’s astounding how many people’s lives have been touched by suicide. For instance it’s not well known that we lose more people to suicide every year on Vancouver Island than by motor vehicle accidents and drug related deaths combined. If we then consider the ripple effect of those left behind our numbers become catastrophic. And yet with something so widespread there is still very limited education around how best to support someone or how to survive this devastating loss yourself.
Suicide is a significant cause of death in Canada that annually exceeds deaths due to motor vehicle accidents and crime. Many nations’ governments spend vast amounts of money on safer roads, but very little on suicide awareness and prevention, or on educating people about how to make healthy life choices. — Vancouver Island Crisis Society
Neil Cutler and Heather Owen in the downtown Nanaimo CHLY studio to discuss helping people with suicide loss [image: people first media]
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day
Even though w
e find ways to move on with our lives it seems that the loss of someone close to suicide can continue to haunt us for many years and finding a place to release this grief has proven to be beneficial. If you are someone in a position to offer support (friend, counsellor, caregiver, coach, teacher, family member, etc.) an upcoming workshop at Vancouver Island University can give you the tools and insights into what is most helpful.
In recognition of International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (Nov. 21), on Wednesday November 25, 2015 the Vancouver Island Crisis Society is holding an educational evening that will give attendees some insights as to what is helpful and how best to support themselves or others through a very difficult time such as this.
Included in this presentation will be music by Jona Kristinsson, Marty Steele, Kasumi Robinson and Kyle Stephen, personal stories of hope and healing and evidence based practices for helping survivors of suicide loss. In lieu of a workshop fee, the Crisis Society is giving back and making meaning out of our loss by asking par
ticipants to bring a new pair of shoes and/or socks that will be donated locally to those in need. As part of their community commitment to healing, Mambo Pizza will be providing pizza snacks for the participants.
The survivors event is being held on Wednesday November 25th at the Vancouver Island University Nanaimo Campus, building 355, room 203 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
We speak with Heather Owen, promotions and community relations coordinator at Vancouver Island Crisis Society, and with Neil Cutler (image right), one of the organizers of the event.
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audio | #SuicideLoss What helps? #Nanaimo #VancouverIsland #yyj @VIMentalHealth @CHLYRadio https://t.co/jV11Gy5YBQ pic.twitter.com/OwqTjK9Qkp
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) November 13, 2015
