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The Government of ±¦ÍþÌåÓý is committed to addressing the rates of suicide in the province. was created to guide suicide prevention initiatives and activities specific to the cultural and social landscape of ±¦ÍþÌåÓý.

The Pillars for Life plan aligns with ±¦ÍþÌåÓý's Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan and is an important step forward in reducing the province's suicide rates and in building strength, resilience and hope in ±¦ÍþÌåÓý people.

Background

The (MHCC) developed Roots of Hope, a community-based suicide prevention model. provides a framework and structure for communities to tailor suicide prevention activities and link these activities to community needs and strengths. The actions outlined in Pillars for Life: The ±¦ÍþÌåÓý Suicide Prevention Plan are grounded in the five pillar approach developed by the MHCC.

The five pillars of the ±¦ÍþÌåÓý Pillars for Life plan include:

1. Specialized supports;
2. Training
3. Awareness
4. Means restriction and means safety
5. Research, surveillance and evaluation

The Government of ±¦ÍþÌåÓý is dedicated to supporting actions under each pillar. Highlights include:

Specialized Supports

• Community of Practice - Canadian Mental Health Association-±¦ÍþÌåÓý Division is operating a community of practice network to support suicide prevention. For more information, visit .
• Land based camps - The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) has developed and delivered camps for youth.

Training

• Mindset media training - The Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma have hosted virtual sessions pertaining to the Mindset: Reporting on Mental Health guide. This guide was created by the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, and is about sensitive and responsible reporting pertaining to suicide and mental health. For more information, visit .
• Suicide prevention trainings - LivingWorks provides evidence-based suicide prevention training for individuals and organizations. For more information, visit .

Awareness

• Public awareness campaign - This has been targeted to males ages 35-40 years in labour industries/rural area/and farming communities; and Indigenous males and females.
• Suicide prevention framework and prevention, intervention and postvention toolkit - For more information, visit . This toolkit is available at post-secondary institutions across the province.
• Public awareness of the Operational Stress Injury/Post Traumatic Stress Support Initiative (OSI-CAN) program - This is a community-based peer support initiative for First Responders and their families, available through a partnership between the Canadian Mental Health Association- ±¦ÍþÌåÓý Division (CMHA) and The Royal Canadian Legion (±¦ÍþÌåÓý Command). For more information, visit or .

Means Restriction and Means Safety

• Safe Medication Disposal Initiative - The launched this program in 2022-23.

Research, Surveillance and Evaluation

• Reporting on progress and activities - To align with An Act respecting a Provincial Strategy for Suicide Prevention, the Ministry of Health includes this information in its annual report.