Windsor Essex County Health Unit
Suicide Prevention Awareness Week 2016 –“You Are Not Alone”
According to the World Health
Organization someone around the globe
dies by suicide every 40 seconds. In Canada
in 2012, death by suicide was the ninth
leading cause of death. In 2011, more than
40 Windsor-Essex County residents died by
suicide. The highest percentage of
self-harm mortalities was in those aged
45-64, with men being more likely to die by
suicide (75 per cent) than women.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Week – A
Windsor-Essex County First
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
(WECHU) is working with the Canadian
Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex
County, to start a community-wide
conversation on mental health promotion
and suicide prevention. In fact, we have
convened a large network of community
partners to plan and launch the inaugural
Suicide Prevention Awareness Week
(SPAW), September 10-16, 2016. The SPAW
planning group includes representatives
from Workplace Wellness Committees,
Health Service Providers, Community
Service Providers, School Boards, and
Post-Secondary Institutions.
The theme for SPAW is “You Are Not
Alone.” The campaign kick-off will coincide
with World Suicide Prevention Day,
September 10. SPAW will help generate
discussions and action within our
community about how to promote positive
mental health as well as how to support
those facing mental health challenges. Local
services for those who are experiencing a
mental health crisis will be identified and
For more information
on Suicide Prevention
Awareness Week,
contact Lindsay
Gammon at the WECHU
519-258-2146 ext.3161
or
[email protected]
If you, or someone
you know is in mental
health crisis, or in
danger of self-harm,
seek help
immediately by
contacting the
Community Crisis
Centre at
519-973-4435
24 hours a day
7 days a week.
highlighted.
What is Happening During the Week?
Wear Yellow in Support – wearing or
displaying yellow during the entire week
will be encouraged.
Support Community Leaders in
Promoting Suicide Prevention Awareness
Week – Windsor-Essex County
municipalities will be asked to proclaim
SPAW, and encourage both residents &
businesses to get involved in events.
Learn about Mental Health and Suicide
Prevention – webinars, workshops, and
training sessions will be offered for
organizations and residents throughout
Windsor-Essex County during SPAW to help
increase our collective knowledge about
mental health promotion, Suicide
Prevention, and resources to support those
in crisis.
Ways to Show Your Support
• Host a SPAW fundraising or awareness
event in your organization.
• Host an event to discuss mental health
promotion and highlight suicide
prevention.
• Make mental health promotion, suicide
prevention, and crisis contact leaflets,
posters, and other written information
easily available.
• Coordinate participation in webinars
and educational presentations.
• Learn the warning signs and risk
factors for suicide.
• Initiate or take part in the social media
conversation.
• Post the “You Are Not Alone” SPAW
logo as your profile picture on social
media for the week of September
10-16, 2016.
Visit www.wechu.org to find more information about vaping
and other health concerns
6 The HUB -July 2016