'Canada is far behind': Experts urge national suicide strategy

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In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, major party leaders and some cabinet ministers, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is calling on Canada to create a national suicide prevention strategy.

The letter was signed by 121 leading experts from 30 countries as members of the Partnerships for Life Global Initiative to Prevent Suicide and was endorsed by the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention Ottawa and all members of the Association of Chairs of Psychiatry in Canada.

Advocates are calling on Canada "as a leading G7 nation" to become a world leader in suicide prevention by creating a national program, something only around 40 other countries in the world have.

"Suicide continues be a leading cause of death globally and the world is currently not on track to achieving the one third reduction in suicide mortality rates as laid out in the UN Sustainable Development Goals," an IASP release stated.

In the letter, experts stressed the importance of "a co-ordinated cross-sectoral strategy, led at the federal level," to address the nuanced challenges surrounding suicide prevention.

"We are hopeful that this call will add momentum to Canadian efforts to enhance existing support for suicide prevention like the recent three-digit (988) national crisis line number," Dr. Mark Sinyor, associate professor at the University of Toronto and associate scientist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, said in the release.

The IASP says more than 4,000 Canadians die by suicide every year and evidence suggests a national program is the "optimal" prevention method, with research indicating countries with a suicide prevention program often have lower suicide rates than those that don't.

An excerpt from the letter to Trudeau reads: "The Government of Canada is undoubtedly giving suicide prevention substantial attention, for which we express our deepest appreciation. However, regrettably, we must also highlight the stark fact that, at a federal policy level, Canada is far behind other similarly resourced and even many, more poorly resourced, countries."

IASP president Rory O'Connor added the organization recommends every country should adopt or make progress towards adopting a national suicide prevention strategy.

"Suicide is a global public health concern, and as experts committed to saving lives, we recognise the significance of a concerted effort on a national level. Efforts such as this from Canada present a real opportunity for positive change," O'Connor said in the release.

The IASP added Canada should implement policies that limit access to lethal doses of over-the-counter medication and introduce guidelines for how to care for someone in hospital after a suicide attempt.

The organization also praised Canada for its "cutting-edge research on understanding suicide and best practices in suicide prevention" but said the country is still "lagging behind its peers."

The federal government passed a law in 2012 requiring the development of a national framework for suicide prevention that included a need to regularly report back to Canadians on the progress being made.

As it was crafted, the framework has three main objectives: reducing stigma while increasing awareness, connecting Canadians to information and resources, and accelerating the use of research and innovation in suicide prevention.

In the government's 2022 progress report, then-minister of mental health and addictions Carolyn Bennett noted work was already underway on "establishing a national suicide prevention action plan."

The plan, according to the government, "will set out concrete actions and performance indicators to improve crisis support and suicide prevention for people most affected by suicide risk, attempt and loss."

As of January 2023 when this status update was made public, the government had indicated it would be engaging with "other government departments, provinces and territories, Indigenous communities and people with lived and living experience to inform the development of the action plan" over the next year.

Current Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Ya'ara Saks' office told CTVNews.ca the government has been taking steps since 2015 to support the mental health of Canadians.

"Our hearts go out to all loved ones of those we have lost to suicide, and to those who struggle with suicidal thoughts. We appreciate the work being done by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and commend their efforts to contribute to improving systems and care."

The government added it is "continuing to engage with all partners, including Indigenous partners, to enable the co-development of actions that will have the greatest impact within communities."

"We want to ensure we get this right," the statement continued. "The national suicide prevention action plan is a priority for our government, and we are actively working with partners to identify shared priorities starting with the 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline. We look forward to sharing our progress in the coming months."

Saks' office also said it is working to support distress centres across Canada through the Distress Line Equity Fund.

"The funding will help … enhance equity, diversity and inclusion in the distress line sector to ensure each and every community across Canada can reach out when they are in crisis. Distress lines are a vital part of Canada’s public health approach to suicide prevention, and this program will help ensure distress lines and centres are able to respond to the needs and experience of everyone who calls, regardless of their background, culture or experience."

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If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available.

Crisis Suicide Helpline (9-8-8)

Canada Suicide Prevention Helpline (1-833-456-4566)

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (1 800 463-2338)

Crisis Services Canada (1-833-456-4566 or text 45645)

Kids Help Phone [phone])

If you need immediate assistance call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.