September 10 is world suicide prevention day, and to raise awareness, Flagstaff Family and Community Services and FFCS along with other community partners will be hosting a series of events in four Flagstaff Communities on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

FFCS, along with the Faith Ministry, FIRST, municipal officials, and MLA Jackie Lovely will start in Daysland at Gazebo Park at 9:30 a.m., moving to Killam at the rear of the FFCS building at 10:30, then to Sedgewick’s Main Street Park at 11:30, finishing in Alliance outside the Alliance Hall at 1:30 p.m.

At each location, Lynne Jenkinson, Executive Director for FFCS and FIRST, says anybody and everybody is welcome to join, in gaining an understanding about suicide prevention awareness.

“Come and learn something new, while helping to raise awareness.”

Battle River School Division’s Kayla Kowal, Mental Health Capacity Building Wellness Coach, will also be speaking at the Killam and Sedgewick presentations, where she will speak on the connection between mental health promotion and suicide prevention.
Lovely says she wanted to hold some kind of community event to bolster mental health, and when she realized suicide prevention awareness week was happening, she started getting in touch with Alberta Health personnel with the idea of setting up a collaborative event, including area clergy.

Lovely brought the idea of raising suicide prevention awareness to FFCS offices in the Camrose constituency, hoping to include faith leaders in each community.

“We are living in tough times right now. This is not going to be easy for us to get through. Talking with one another and supporting each other is in my mind the best and only way to move forward.”

Jenkinson is working to have short presentations at each location, and encourages everyone to attend one of the four community events to help raise awareness and reduce the stigma of talking about suicide.

Mental health experts report that suicide rates are expected to spike as issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including unemployment and existing mental health conditions, worsen.

Talking about suicide does not cause suicide, says Crisis Services Canada; “in fact, connecting with someone that cares can make all the difference.”

Lovely says, “When I look back on how things have been done in the recent past, I see silos and to me that is lonely. Given this unprecedented time that we are living in, a strong sense of community is so important.

“I grew up in a remote rural setting and the community hall was the centre of activity. We hosted dances, showers, anniversaries, all the fun events. The ladies would bring the food and the men would set up the hall.

“When I remember my childhood, I think back to those gatherings and how much fun we had spending time with one another. When there was a loss, we gathered together then too.

“We were there for one another in good times and in bad. That same sentiment is why I feel we must continue to work hard on keeping our sense of community. COVID-19 has cooped us up away from one another.

“It is important that we take precautions to protect everyone’s health and wellbeing, but we must move forward to keep our community together.

“Each person matters. We will get through this but only if we work together.”