The statistics are staggering.
More than 800,000 people die by suicide every year globally, according to a 2014 World Health Organization report on suicide prevention.
The same report names suicide the second leading cause of death around the globe for youth 15 to 29 years old.
Sept. 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, and in Squamish, the third annual Sea to Sky Suicide Prevention Ride/Walk is rolling out on Sept. 23 to help raise awareness around the issue of suicide and prevention.
“A major thing about suicide is that it is often so stigmatized that people don’t feel comfortable talking about it and so that is one of the main barriers to getting help,” said Anna Lippman, Squamish
Youth Resource Centre coordinator.
“They feel that it is such a taboo subject that they can’t reach out.”
Lippman said friends are also nervous to ask if they think someone is suicidal, but as uncomfortable as the conver-sation might be, they should talk to them.
“The most important thing… is just to ask them, ‘Hey, are you feeling suicidal?’”
If the answer is yes, the next step is to get help either by calling 911, taking them to the hospital or contacting a mental health professional.
For individuals who are thinking about wanting to die, it is important to reach out and not ignore those thoughts.
“There’s something going on,” Lippman said, adding that there is always hope.
“It is real, it is in our community, but it is entirely preventable.”
Most people who survive a suicide attempt say that they are glad that they didn’t die, she said.
“A lot of people when they say, ‘I am suicidal’ or ‘I want to commit suicide,’ it is not really that they want to end their lives, it is more that they are reaching out for help.”
Sometimes, though, regardless of the interventions, some individuals choose to die.
“Definitely it is not anyone’s fault that it happened,” Lippman stressed.
“Sometimes you can do everything in the world to support someone and that is just the choice that they are going to make. It is a tragedy, but it is not your fault.”
Although this is not the first suicide prevention ride in Squamish, it is Lippman’s first year being involved.
“This year we have definitely seen the loss of a lot of really good people in the community,” she said. “It just seemed like such an important thing to get behind.”
The ride will circle around Squamish and back to Brennan Park, where there will be speeches, refreshments and prizes.
The ride starts rain or shine Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 4 p.m. at Brennan Park.
The Sea to Sky Suicide Prevention Working Group is organizing the event.
To volunteer, contact Brianne at 604-815-8311, Anna at 604-892-2207, or message them on the Sea to Sky Mental Health Partnership Facebook page.
