CALGARY, Sept. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - Last year, more than 3,500 Canadians died by suicide. Of those people who die by suicide, more than 90 per cent had a diagnosable mental illness. In Inuit communities, suicide accounts for half of all deaths among young people.
September 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day - is a day to come together in your neighbourhood, your school, your workplace and your community to celebrate life and show your commitment to saving lives. The national theme for 2013 is Hope and Resiliency at Home and Work.Hope and Resiliency at Home and at Work.
In Ottawa, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP), Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the National Inuit Youth Council (NIYC) and partners will host an event on Parliament Hill to encourage Canadians to join a worldwide movement to talk about suicide prevention.
What: Public event marking World Suicide Prevention Day
Who:
Remarks by:
Thomas Anguti Johnston, President, National Inuit Youth Council
Terry Audla, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Dammy Damstrom-Albach, President/CEO, Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
Louise Bradley, President/CEO, Mental Health Commission of Canada
Harold Albrecht, Member of Parliament, Conservative Party of Canada
Performances by:
Nunavut Sivuniksavut
Ottawa Inuit Children's Centre
Throat Singers Kendra Tagoona and Becky Mearns
Drum Dancer Ernie Kadloo
Spoken Word Artist Taqralik Partridge (Montreal)
Where: Parliament Hill (Front Lawn), 111 Wellington St, Ottawa, ON
When: September 10, 2013, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT
Note for media: When reporting on suicide, we kindly encourage you to include contact information for a local crisis centre.
ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF CANADA
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to help people who live with mental health problems and illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives. Together we create change. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada.
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca | strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca
ABOUT INUIT TAPIRIIT KANATAMI
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is a registered charitable organization dedicated to promoting Inuit culture and identity and improving the well being of Canada's 55,000 Inuit. It works at the national level to influence government policy and program delivery, and advocates for improved services in Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland in Canada, which is made up of four land claim settlement areas: Nunavut, Nunavik (Northern Quebec), Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador) and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories.
www.itk.ca
The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.
SOURCE: Mental Health Commission of Canada
Kyle Marr, Senior Communication Specialist
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Office: 403-385‐4050
Mobile: 587-226‐8782
[email protected]
Patricia D'Souza, Senior Communications Officer
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Office: 613-238-8181
Mobile: 613-292-4482
[email protected]
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