The Mental Illness Foundation highlights the many sources available to help fight suicide
As Part of National Suicide Prevention Week, from January 30 to February 5, 2011
Montreal, Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 – As part of the 21st National Suicide Prevention Week (http://semaine.aqps.info), taking place between January 30 and February 5, 2011, the Mental Illness Foundation wishes to reiterate the importance of preventing depression, the main risk factor for suicide as well as other issues, and to inform the public of the existence and availability of several sources of help in fighting suicide. The Foundation is pleased to partner with the Association québécoise de prévention du suicide and its director, Bruno Marchand, in support of the theme, “Suicide is not an option”.
According to 2009 data, published in 2011 by the National Public Health Institute of Quebec (“Institut de santé publique du Québec”), there are 1,100 cases of suicides in Quebec annually, an average of three per day. “Unfortunately, too often people make irrevocable decisions without us fully understanding their motives,” said Dr. Stéphane Kunicki, psychiatrist and scientific spokesman for the Mental Illness Foundation. "Not so long ago, we believed that suicide by younger people was an unpredictable and impulsive gesture, and we felt powerless to change the situation. In recent years, we have witnessed several family tragedies. In almost every case, reports imply that risk factors were present before the crisis," added Dr. Kunicki. He reiterated that while crises are not always preventable, most are preceded by warning signs. "A crisis is not always synonymous with a tragedy. It can be an opportunity to help a loved one. Our energy must be put towards prevention."
As part of the National Suicide Prevention Week, the Foundation will present a free conference entitled “Mental Health and Teen Life: Part 2” (“Santé mentale et vie d’ado : volet 2”) with Michèle Lambin, social worker, clinician and educator. Ms. Lambin is also the author of the book Aider à prévenir le suicide chez les jeunes. This conference will be held on Wednesday, February 2, at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium of the Centre d’archives de Montréal (Gilles-Hocquart Building, 535 Viger Street East, Montreal) and will be given in French only. The conference is also available online. For reservations, please phone 514-529-5354.
The Mental Illness Foundation and prevention
To further its prevention efforts, the Foundation offers a number of programs, free conferences and services that raise awareness about mental illnesses and inform the public of the importance of detecting depression, the main risk factor linked to suicide and other mental health issues. These include:
• The Partners for Life program, a tour of secondary schools aimed at students in grades 9-11, their parents and other stakeholders;
• The Nothing’s Working program which consists of training courses for managers and conferences for employees to help them all better manage mental health problems in the workplace;
• The Seniors in Mind program, a new program to be launched in spring of 2011 that will provide awareness sessions and training for seniors, caregivers, stakeholders and healthcare professionals. It will include a number of tools for information and prevention purposes.
• The Nothing’s Working program which consists of training courses for managers and conferences for employees to help them all better manage mental health problems in the workplace;
• The Seniors in Mind program, a new program to be launched in spring of 2011 that will provide awareness sessions and training for seniors, caregivers, stakeholders and healthcare professionals. It will include a number of tools for information and prevention purposes.
What to do in an emergency
The Mental Illness Foundation wants to highlight some actions to take when a person (oneself or a loved one) shows signs of a suicidal crisis.
In a crisis when the individual cannot wait more than a few minutes:
1) Dial 911. With the help of regional centres for suicide prevention (Les centres de prévention du suicide), the situation will be analysed on the spot and help will be dispatched.
2) Almost all general and specialized hospitals in Quebec have a psychiatrist available for emergency assessments.
3) In case of a suicide emergency, the following resources are available:
- Call the free suicide prevention hotline at 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
- Dial 811 to obtain the phone numbers for various crises centres;
- Attend CLSCs, which offer psychosocial services;
- Crisis referral centres, which can even offer accommodation.
For a person in distress but who can wait 48-72 hours:
4) The family can request an order for a psychiatric evaluation with the help of a CLSC. The person in question will consequently receive an evaluation from a psychiatrist.
Other resources:
5) Thanks to its referral service, the Mental Illness Foundation can recommend resources to provide help and support anywhere in Quebec:
- Website: http://www.fondationdesmaladiesmentales.org/en/
- Referral line: 514-529-1000 or 1-888-529-5354 extension 222
- Email: ressources@fondationdesmaladiesmentales.org
6) The Information and Referral Centre of Greater Montreal may refer patients to the most appropriate resource. Please visit http://www.info-reference.qc.ca/index_a.html or call 514-527-1375.
7) Associations offering assistance can phone the Federation of Families and Friends of People with Mental Illnesses (Fédération des familles et amis de la personne atteinte de maladie mentale) at 1-800-323-0474.
About the Mental Illness Foundation
Founded in 1980 by Dr. Yves Lamontagne, the Mental Illness Foundation's mission is to prevent mental illness in order to reduce the suffering of afflicted people and their loved ones by mobilizing individuals and society as a whole. For more information on the Foundation, mental illness and available resources, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.mentalillnessfoundation.org.
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INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:
As part of the National Suicide Prevention Week, scientific spokespersons for the Mental Illness Foundation are available to the media to discuss topics related to mental illness and suicide.
Information/Interviews:
Sophie Côté Laplante Ana Marinescu
Office: 514-843-2376 Office: 514-843-2327
Cellular: 514-220-1082 Cellular: 514-501-0262
scotelaplante@national.ca amarinescu@national.ca