Stories of loss as Edmonton councillors approve suicide prevention strategy
Laura Osman | CBC News | Posted: September 12, 2016 11:24 PM | Last Updated: September 12, 2016
Twice as many people die from suicide than from traffic collisions each year
Grieving mothers, sisters and people who have experienced the despair associated with suicide are applauding the city's new prevention strategy as a first step toward reducing stigma and, hopefully, saving lives.
In 2013, 165 people died from suicide in the Edmonton area — double the number killed annually in traffic collisions.
The city's suicide prevention strategy, approved by community services committee on Wednesday, aims to reduce or perhaps eliminate that number.
Coun. Bev Esslinger said the effects of suicide can ripple through generations, as she learned first-hand when her brother killed himself a few years ago.
She recounted how her brother's two children couldn't talk about what they went through, or about their father's death, and said she hopes once this strategy is in action it will help to change that.
"Now we're not just talking about it," Esslinger said. "We're actually doing something."
Nadeen Laboucane, who has been an emergency medical technician for 20 years, told councillors that even having conversations about the issue can make a difference.
Speaking out can reduce stigma
Laboucane works 12-hour shifts taking emergency calls, and said she'll speak with as many as five people per shift who plan to kill themselves.
"It's exhausting, and it wears on the mental health," Laboucane said. "It's the constant trauma."
In February, in despair and no longer able to cope, she drove to a remote location and tried to kill herself by swallowing prescription drugs.
RCMP managed to resuscitate her.
"I can't imagine what I would have put my mom and my children through if I had been successful," Laboucane told city councillors.
She was worried that speaking out about her experience would hinder her success at work, and said in some ways it has. But it also helped shed light on the issue of suicide among first responders.
"We're implementing the road to mental health readiness with AHS … as well as psychological health and safety committee meetings," Laboucane said.
While mental health services generally fall under provincial jurisdiction, families who have been affected by suicide said they're grateful the city is taking on a leadership role on the issue.
"This city has an important role to play," said Lorna Thomas, who lost her 24-year-old son, Alex Thomas-Haug, to suicide in 2012.
Other levels of government must be involved
Coun. Ben Henderson said the most important thing the city can focus on is co-ordinating with non-profit organizations and other levels of government.
"This vision only happens if a lot of other players come to the table," he said.
Mark Snaterse, executive director of addictions and mental health with AHS, helped lead the advisory committee that drafted the strategy. He said it encompasses far more than the city's role.
"Organizations tend to make strategies based on what they can control," Snaterse said. "This is very unique because it's very holistic."
He said many other stakeholders, including AHS and the province, have already shown a willingness to be part of the strategy.
The committee set out goals to increase education and awareness of suicide and mental health, reduce stigma, ensure access to service and address the needs of people who are particularly at risk.
City council is expected to give the strategy final approval next week. After that, the committee will start to put together an implementation plan, which will provide more details about how the city hopes to accomplish its goal.