Hope and resilience – a hedge against despair
Canada marked World Suicide Prevention Day from Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, September 10, and VCH SAFER Coordinator Dammy Damstrom-Albach was there.
As president of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP), Dammy was among the roster of speakers featured at the awareness-raising event that encouraged Canadians to explore the possibilities offered by engaging in behaviours at home and at work aimed at fostering hope and resiliency as one way to take action to prevent suicide.
The following is a short Q&A with Dammy about her role with CASP and her goal to educate all Canadians about how they can help save lives.
How did it happen that you were invited to today’s event as a speaker?
I am current President of CASP, the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. SAFER, the VCH program that I coordinate, has always maintained very close ties with CASP because of our unique program for suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. This invitation came out of CASP’s ongoing work with the MHCC and the PHAC in support of Suicide Prevention, which is now the 3rd of the MHCC’s 5 priorities over the next 24 months.
What did Tuesday’s today’s event on Parliament Hill mean to you?
It was testimony to the spirit of hope and to the resilience that hope can kindle and to the possibilities for positive change that can be created by collaboration. The presence and remarks of Grand Chief Shawn Atleo, Assembly of First Nations and the National Inuit Leader Terry Audla underscored the insight that youth are the future and their participation, perspectives, struggles, issues and aspirations must be a part of any movement forward – not just in the traditional territories but throughout Canada. Terry Audla said it best: “The suicide rate among Inuit is 11 times the national average, and most of these tragic, preventable deaths occur among men and women under 30. But this is not simply an Inuit issue or an Aboriginal problem. These unspeakable horrors affect all Canadians, and it will take the concerted efforts of all Canadians to break the silence surrounding suicide and mental illness.”
What do you hope to achieve by participating?
My wish was to strengthen the connection between CASP and other critical stakeholders in the work of reducing suicide risk and building upon that which is protective. Also to model and to emphasize the necessity of collaboration if we are to make real progress through practical positive action on the ground in times of decreasing resources and mounting expectation that we do more and more with less and less. And to emphasize hope and resilience as protective factors that can be fostered by families at home and at work by colleagues and employing organizations/institutions. This is something that can begin right now, and CASP, with the support of the MHCC launched two documents on WSPD addressing clearly the whys and hows of fostering hope and resilience at home and at work.
What’s the most important point that you’d like people to know/understand about suicide prevention?
That it is everybody’s business – we all have a role in reducing risk. . That it is okay to ask. All of us can learn the warning signs that would lead us to ask about suicide. And then it is critical to know what to do next if someone is indeed at risk. Mnemonic T.A.L.K. – Tell, Ask, Listen, Keep Safe — is helpful.
- Take all threats or attempts seriously
- Be aware and learn warning signs of suicide
- Be direct and ask if the person is thinking of suicide. If the answer is yes, ask if the person has a plan and what the time line is.
- Be non-judgmental and empathic
- Do not minimize the feelings expressed by the person
- Do not be sworn to secrecy …seek out the support of appropriate professionals
- Ask if there is anything you can do
- Draw on resources in the person’s network
- Do not use clichés or try to debate with the person
- In an acute crisis take the person to an emergency room or walk in clinic or call a mobile crisis service (MHES) or 911.
- Do not leave them alone until help is provided
- Remove any obvious means e.g. firearms, drugs or sharp objects) from the immediate vicinity
Links to related information about suicide prevention:
Suicide is flourishing in our silence. It’s time to talk
September 10 Op/Ed – Globe and Mail
By Dammy Damstrom-Albach, President, CASP and David Goldbloom, Chair, Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Suicide Prevention Essentials for Hope and Resilience
This YouTube link leads to a webinar, developed by Dammy, for staff and physicians.
September 5 – VCH News