Check in with someone on Suicide Prevention Day
Posted Sep 10, 2022 05:45:00 PM.
Sept.10 is World Suicide Prevention Day and also serves as a reminder to check in with friends and family.
The prevalence of suicide is not insignificant, with more than 10 Canadians dying from suicide every day, according to Statistics Canada.
Dr. Gail Beck, a psychiatrist with the Royal Ottawa Hospital, told The Sam Laprade Show on Thursday, Sept. 8, that it's important to remember that when people have suicidal feelings, it's symptomatic of a serious illness and no one's fault.
Beck explained that children often don't confide in their parents that they're experiencing depression, and parents shouldn't blame themselves if they miss the symptoms.
“Don't be afraid to ask your child how they're doing, and to do what you can to get them help,” she said, adding that it's important to develop relationships where you can comfortably discuss difficult subjects.
“Do check-ins with each other, and remind each other that having [an] anxiety disorder or having depression is nobody's fault…and that there is help,” she said.
She added that the fact that suicidal ideation is often the first symptom that someone is unwell indicates the need for faster treatment and more mental health resources.
More information about suicide prevention can be found here.
Listen to the full interview with Dr. Gail Beck below:
