{"id":90095,"date":"2025-08-27T09:46:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T13:46:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/?post_type=resource&#038;p=90095"},"modified":"2025-08-27T17:21:51","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T21:21:51","slug":"toolkit-for-people-who-have-been-impacted-by-a-suicide-loss-2","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/resource\/toolkit-for-people-who-have-been-impacted-by-a-suicide-loss-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Toolkit for people who have been impacted by a suicide loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"90095\" class=\"elementor elementor-90095\" data-elementor-post-type=\"resource\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-498f9277 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"498f9277\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"ss-header\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6075bee1 e-con-full ss-sidebar e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6075bee1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a035ef2 e-con-full ss-sidebar-container e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7a035ef2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fc8ab69 e-con-full ss-sidebar-arrow e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6fc8ab69\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45656190 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"45656190\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"side-bar-open\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-caret-square-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M176 354.9V157.1c0-10.7 13-16.1 20.5-8.5l98.3 98.9c4.7 4.7 4.7 12.2 0 16.9l-98.3 98.9c-7.5 7.7-20.5 2.3-20.5-8.4zM448 80v352c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V80c0-26.5 21.5-48 48-48h352c26.5 0 48 21.5 48 48zm-48 346V86c0-3.3-2.7-6-6-6H54c-3.3 0-6 2.7-6 6v340c0 3.3 2.7 6 6 6h340c3.3 0 6-2.7 6-6z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ecaa9e2 elementor-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"ecaa9e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"side-bar-close\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon\" href=\"#\">\n\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-caret-square-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M272 157.1v197.8c0 10.7-13 16.1-20.5 8.5l-98.3-98.9c-4.7-4.7-4.7-12.2 0-16.9l98.3-98.9c7.5-7.7 20.5-2.3 20.5 8.4zM448 80v352c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V80c0-26.5 21.5-48 48-48h352c26.5 0 48 21.5 48 48zm-48 346V86c0-3.3-2.7-6-6-6H54c-3.3 0-6 2.7-6 6v340c0 3.3 2.7 6 6 6h340c3.3 0 6-2.7 6-6z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6052fd5f e-con-full ss-sidebar-container-2 e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6052fd5f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b48c669 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3b48c669\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-701bb56e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"701bb56e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#introduction\">Introduction<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-550d1dd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"550d1dd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#strategy\">Strategies and coping <br \/>suggestions<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54fd5562 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"54fd5562\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#stories\">Telling your <br \/>story safely<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e790e22 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e790e22\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#messages\">Hopeful messages<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6170c843 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6170c843\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#suicide\">About suicide<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34b18287 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"34b18287\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#resources\">Additional resources <\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6662104 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6662104\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"#crisis-line\">Crisis Line<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fa02e73 elementor-position-inline-end elementor-view-default elementor-mobile-position-block-start elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-box\" data-id=\"3fa02e73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-wrapper\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#ss-header\" class=\"elementor-icon\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-label=\"Back to top\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-arrow-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M34.9 289.5l-22.2-22.2c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9L207 39c9.4-9.4 24.6-9.4 33.9 0l194.3 194.3c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L413 289.4c-9.5 9.5-25 9.3-34.3-.4L264 168.6V456c0 13.3-10.7 24-24 24h-32c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24V168.6L69.2 289.1c-9.3 9.8-24.8 10-34.3.4z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-box-content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-box-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#ss-header\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBack to top\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76a19051 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"76a19051\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13e5c25c elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"13e5c25c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- ss page hide 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});\t\n});\n<\/script>\n\n<style>\n.wordpress-print-posts{\n    display: none !important;\n}\n\n#side-bar-close{\n    width: 35px !important;\n}\n<\/style>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b3a83a6 e-con-full ss-main-content e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3b3a83a6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-537acf87 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"537acf87\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c495566 e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6c495566\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3202f282 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3202f282\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ccc58f6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7ccc58f6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b2cf321 elementor-align-right elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"5b2cf321\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-sink\" href=\"https:\/\/commissionsantementale.ca\/resource\/trousse-doutils-pour-les-personnes-qui-ont-ete-touchees-par-une-perte-par-suicide-2\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Fran\u00e7ais<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6a4fb elementor-align-right elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f6a4fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-sink\" href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/suicide-prevention-toolkits\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Suicide Prevention Toolkits<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f91ff76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f91ff76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-149dcb79 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"149dcb79\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39a7c16f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"39a7c16f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Toolkit for people who have been impacted by a suicide loss<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f3addb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7f3addb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9138a8d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9138a8d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c860e2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5c860e2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36df538 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36df538\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Mental Health Commission of Canada, in collaboration with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/suicideprevention.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener external\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention<\/a>, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/alberta.cmha.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener external\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division (CMHA Alberta)<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener external\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Centre for Suicide Prevention<\/a>, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener external\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Public Health Agency of Canada<\/a>, along with an Advisory Committee comprised of people with lived experience related to suicide, have developed toolkits to support people who have been impacted by suicide. This toolkit focuses on resources for people who have lost someone to suicide; a companion toolkit is tailored for people who have been impacted by a suicide attempt.<\/p><p>The content of the toolkits is informed by an online survey we did in the summer of 2017 to gather feedback from people affected by suicide. There were over 1,000 responses, and the feedback helped us develop a better understanding of what topics, content areas, resources, and information were important to include in the toolkits.\u00a0<span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">The toolkits also include resources highlighted in a literature review done by the CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention. Both toolkits were refreshed in 2025 to reflect updated resources. <\/span><\/p><p>Please note that the toolkits are not an exhaustive list of the wide variety of resources available across Canada for support. If you are not finding the tools and resources that resonate most with you, you may wish to connect with a trained responder by contacting <a href=\"https:\/\/988.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">988.<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e814fb0 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"e814fb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Toolkit-for-people-who-have-been-impacted-by-a-suicide-loss-FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download the toolkit <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9fe4829 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"9fe4829\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39a8dd1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"39a8dd1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SuicideLoss-Pic1-2025-1024x576.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-89053\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SuicideLoss-Pic1-2025-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SuicideLoss-Pic1-2025-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SuicideLoss-Pic1-2025-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SuicideLoss-Pic1-2025-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SuicideLoss-Pic1-2025-533x300.png 533w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SuicideLoss-Pic1-2025.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d3d74c8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d3d74c8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"introduction\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e6fbee3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5e6fbee3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bc1eb3e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3bc1eb3e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Introduction<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e9357d2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7e9357d2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-706b21b1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"706b21b1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cceb3f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2cceb3f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Suicide-Loss-.png\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e60f833 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1e60f833\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6085722f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6085722f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">The Content<\/h4><p>There is no right or wrong way to seek help. This toolkit is not designed to be an exhaustive list of the very wide variety of resources available across Canada for support. It is intended to be a summary of the tools that have resonated most with the hundreds of people who completed an online survey we conducted and of resources from a literature review completed by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division (CMHA Alberta) and Centre for Suicide Prevention.<\/p><p>If you are not finding the tools and resources that resonate most with you, you may consider talking with someone. You may wish to connect with a trained responder by contacting <a href=\"https:\/\/988.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">988<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/kidshelpphone.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kids Help Phone<\/a>.<\/p><h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">What it is<\/h4><p>This toolkit focuses on resources for people who have lost someone to suicide; a companion toolkit is tailored for people who have been impacted by a suicide attempt.<\/p><p>The content of the toolkits is informed by an online survey we did in the summer of 2017 to gather feedback from people affected by suicide. There were over 1,000 responses, and the feedback helped us develop a better understanding of what topics, content areas, resources, and information were important to include in the toolkits. The toolkits also include resources highlighted in a literature review done by the CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention. Both toolkits were refreshed in 2025 to reflect updated resources.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20f83674 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"20f83674\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Language<\/h4>\nSurvey respondents indicated a preference for \u201cpeople-first\u201d language. You may consider yourself to be someone who has experienced a suicide loss, or you may identify yourself as a survivor of a suicide loss. How you identify yourself is a personal decision.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ea804a1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4ea804a1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"strategy\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79d8155a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"79d8155a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-732b4e86 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"732b4e86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Strategies and coping suggestions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-169a87e e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"169a87e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5cb3d5ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5cb3d5ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There is no single way or \u201cright\u201d way to cope with a death by suicide. Whether you are a colleague, friend, neighbour, or family member, everyone\u2019s relationship with the person who has died is unique. This means the loss will affect people differently, and each person will have their own unique way of dealing with the loss.<\/p><p>Below is a non-exhaustive list of strategies you can use as you grieve. If you are not finding the tools and resources that resonate most with you, you could try talking about your options with a trained responder by contacting <a href=\"https:\/\/988.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">988<\/a>.<\/p><h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Navigating suicide loss: resources, stories, and support for healing<\/h4><p>It\u2019s normal to grieve the death of someone you know. Suicide grief is unique. It can be a far more intense and complicated experience than other types of loss.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2622d1a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2622d1a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StrategiesCoping-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-89089\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StrategiesCoping-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StrategiesCoping-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StrategiesCoping-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StrategiesCoping-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StrategiesCoping-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StrategiesCoping-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25c13560 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"25c13560\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ed621e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ed621e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">About suicide grief<\/h4><p>Many suggest that bereavement after a suicide is unlike any other kind of bereavement. As the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention states, \u201csuicide bereavement is unique because suicide itself is a singular manner of death.\u201d<sup>1<\/sup> The grieving process is further complicated by the inexplicable nature of suicide itself. Add notions of guilt and the pressures of stigma, and there is a potential risk for suicide for anyone experiencing complicated grief due to suicide.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ab69922 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5ab69922\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7254a62b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7254a62b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Reactions to a suicide loss will be different for every person. Some of these reactions may include:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d9c9f2e e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2d9c9f2e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2baf10ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2baf10ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>shock and numbness<\/li><li>deep sadness<\/li><li>anger and blame<\/li><li>guilt<\/li><li>shame<\/li><li>relief<\/li><li>deniale<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa10269 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aa10269\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>why questions<\/li>\n<li>fear<\/li>\n<li>depression<\/li>\n<li>leaning on spiritual or religious beliefs<\/li>\n<li>thinking about suicide<\/li>\n<li>reaching out<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-640cc4df e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"640cc4df\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f5bc2b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f5bc2b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To learn more about the reactions to suicide loss, refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/suicideprevention.ca\/support-for-people-living-with-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Normal Reactions to Suicide Loss<\/a> by the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hk9yesLtkRc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What is Suicide Bereavement<\/a> by the Crisis Centre of BC is an informational video to support those who have experienced suicide loss.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cmha.ca\/brochure\/grieving\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grieving<\/a> by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) describes what grief is, how to manage it, and how to help a loved one.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/local_resource\/suicide-grief-and-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suicide grief and loss<\/a> by the CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention compares suicide grief and grief following other losses<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/thelifelinecanada.ca\/survivors-of-suicide-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Survivors of Suicide Loss<\/a> by the Lifeline Canada Foundation guides readers through the difficult time after a suicide loss.<\/li><li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifeline.org.au\/get-help\/information-and-support\/bereaved-by-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bereaved by suicide<\/a> website by Lifeline Australia offers tips and advice to people bereaved by suicide.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/news.cuanschutz.edu\/news-stories\/expert-untangles-complexities-of-grief-for-suicide-loss-survivors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Expert Untangles Complexities of Grief for Suicide Loss Survivors<\/a>, an article published by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, discusses how to embrace community and stay connected after a suicide loss.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/24951-complicated-grief\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Complicated Grief<\/a> by the Cleveland Clinic explains how complicated grief differs from normal grief.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6eb3feaa e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6eb3feaa\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28273fdd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"28273fdd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"635\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GriefSuicide-Children-1024x664.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-89093\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GriefSuicide-Children-1024x664.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GriefSuicide-Children-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GriefSuicide-Children-768x498.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GriefSuicide-Children-1536x996.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GriefSuicide-Children-2048x1328.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GriefSuicide-Children-463x300.jpg 463w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4af4ad8b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4af4ad8b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Grief and suicide resources for children and youth<\/h4><p><br \/>These resources include ones that discuss how to support a young person after a suicide loss, and resources for children and youth themselves.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/pei.cmha.ca\/suicide-prevention\/supporting-children-and-youth-to-grieve-after-suicide-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Supporting Children and Youth to Grieve after Suicide Loss<\/a> by the CMHA PEI Division<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/allianceofhope.org\/find-support\/children-teens\/supporting-children-and-teens-after-a-suicide-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Supporting Children and Teens after a Suicide Death<\/a> by the Alliance of Hope<\/li><li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/grievingchildrencanada.org\/index.php\/directory-of-grief-service-providers-across-canada\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadian Alliance for Children\u2019s Grief<\/a>\u2019s child and youth bereavement support groups across Canada<\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.supportaftersuicide.org.au\/what-to-do\/communicating-with-children\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Communicating with suicide bereaved children<\/a> by Support After Suicide<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/resource\/talking-to-children-about-a-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Talking to Children About a Suicide<\/a> by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)<\/li><li><em>Goodnight Mr. Vincent van Gogh<\/em> by Lindsey Doolittle (children\u2019s book)<\/li><li><em>Red Chocolate for Elephants: For Children Bereaved by Suicide<\/em> by Diana Sands (children\u2019s book)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1ffcef e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f1ffcef\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"stories\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d6caf56 e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6d6caf56\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65a71a1e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"65a71a1e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Stories from people with lived experience<\/h4>\nThese websites and blogs feature the voices of people who have lost someone to suicide.\n<ul>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.taps.org\/articles\/2017\/waystocopeaftersuicideloss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">8 Ways to Cope After a Suicide Loss<\/a> by the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/newsletter_article\/Left-behind-after-suicide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Left behind after suicide<\/a> by Harvard Health Publishing<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/themighty.com\/2016\/12\/surviving-the-holidays-after-suicide-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">20 Messages for Suicide Loss Survivors During the Holidays<\/a> by Sarah Schuster from The Mighty<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thefriendshipbench.org\/a-letter-to-parents-surviving-a-childs-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Letter to Parents Surviving a Child\u2019s Suicide<\/a> by Sam Fiorella from The Friendship Bench<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/afsp.org\/international-survivors-of-suicide-loss-day-documentaries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day documentaries<\/a> by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.oursideofsuicide.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Our Side of Suicide<\/a>, a website with many articles and blogs about coping strategies<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/suicidology.org\/community-support-resources\/suicide-loss-survivors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Handbook for Coping with Suicide Grief<\/a> by the American Association of Suicidology, a booklet that offers insight and essential information covering common experiences by people impacted by suicide loss.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-683ce28a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"683ce28a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"652\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stories-1024x681.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-89096\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stories-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stories-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stories-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stories-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stories-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Stories-451x300.jpg 451w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67ccf366 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"67ccf366\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f1be317 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f1be317\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Peer support groups<\/h4>\nPeer support can be an invaluable source of strength for people who have been impacted by a suicide attempt. Peers can provide emotional\nsupport that helps address suicide risk as they share their own experience of recovery, thereby fostering perceived connectedness and\nreducing feelings of hopelessness among those receiving support \u2014 two key factors that protect against suicidal ideation.<sup>2<\/sup>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cfda473 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6cfda473\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e911817 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2e911817\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-397c7a51 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"397c7a51\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Manosphere-KT-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-88203\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Manosphere-KT-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Manosphere-KT-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Manosphere-KT-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Manosphere-KT-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Manosphere-KT-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Manosphere-KT-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12a24700 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"12a24700\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a38b22b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4a38b22b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/peersupportcanada.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peer Support Canada<\/a> serves as the national voice for peer support.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/local_resource\/peer-support-in-suicide-prevention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peer support in suicide prevention<\/a> by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division (CMHA Alberta) and Centre for Suicide Prevention discusses the role of peer support in preventing suicide.<\/li><li>The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention provides a <a href=\"https:\/\/suicideprevention.ca\/resources\/#support-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Support Services Directory<\/a> to help find a survivor support centre in Canada.<\/li><li>The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers a directory (<a href=\"https:\/\/afsp.org\/find-support\/ive-lost-someone\/find-a-support-group\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a Support Group<\/a>) of both Canadian and American support groups for people who have lost someone to suicide.<\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.allianceofhope.org\/alliance-of-hope-for-suic\/support-groups.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alliance of Hope for suicide loss survivors<\/a> is an online support forum for people who have lost someone to suicide.<\/li><li>Find self-help, mutual aid, and support groups across Canada <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ementalhealth.ca\/Canada\/Self-help-Mutual-Aid-and-Support-Groups\/index.php?m=heading&amp;ID=44\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/local_resource\/suicide-bereavement-support-groups\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suicide bereavement support groups: A guide<\/a> by the CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention and the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention provides a set of guidelines and recommendations to create and sustain a suicide bereavement support group.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-258fa4bb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"258fa4bb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45dda579 e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"45dda579\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f69d8f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f69d8f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Counselling and therapy<\/h4>\nFinding the right counsellor may take time. It may also take time to find the therapy and therapist that best suit you. As a starting point, you may want to start a conversation with your family physician. Your doctor may be able to discuss with you whether you require medication in the short term and may also be able to recommend a good counsellor for you. Give yourself the time and permission to look for a therapist whom you feel hears you, understands you, believes you, and provides a type of therapy that works well for you.\n<ul>\n \t<li>Finding the right psychologist can be difficult. On its web page <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpa.ca\/public\/findingapsychologist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Finding the Psychologist for You<\/a>, the Canadian Psychological Association maintains a list of all the provincial and territorial associations of psychology.<\/li>\n \t<li>You may find a good counsellor or therapist using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/ca\/therapists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a Therapist directory<\/a> provided by <em>Psychology Today.<\/em><\/li>\n \t<li>Other resources for finding counselling include the following:\n<ul>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inclusivetherapists.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Inclusive Therapists<\/a> maintains a searchable database of therapists.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healingincolour.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Healing in Colour<\/a> envisions a world where Black, Indigenous, and people of colour, in all intersections, have access to therapy that supports healing and liberation.<\/li>\n \t<li>The<a href=\"https:\/\/affordabletherapynetwork.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Affordable Therapy Network<\/a> is a directory of therapists offering low-cost and sliding-scale counselling across Canada.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f0954a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2f0954a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CounselingTherapy-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-89091\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CounselingTherapy-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CounselingTherapy-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CounselingTherapy-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CounselingTherapy-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CounselingTherapy-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CounselingTherapy-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-279cb9c2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"279cb9c2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ef5e21c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7ef5e21c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the same way that not all therapists will be a good fit for everyone, not all types of therapy will suit everyone well. Counsellors may use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, motivational interviewing, and other techniques, depending on your needs. You can learn about different types of therapy techniques <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/ca\/types-of-therapy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43c2fcce e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"43c2fcce\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7104f891 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7104f891\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Other resource<\/h4>\n<ul>\n \t<li>In <a href=\"https:\/\/allianceofhope.org\/find-support\/for-new-survivors\/writing-the-obituary-where-to-start\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Writing the Obituary: Where to Start<\/a>, Alliance of Hope shares suggestions on how to write an obituary for someone who has died by suicide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7de85039 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7de85039\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e522848 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e522848\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">How to support a loved one who is having thoughts of suicide<\/h3>\nIf you are a friend, family member, acquaintance, or colleague of someone who has lost a loved one to suicide, it can be hard to know what to\nsay and how to support that person; however, it is important to support them to help prevent them from feeling isolated and alone.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7934db e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e7934db\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fd28d08 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7fd28d08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"565\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Postvention-1024x590.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-89098\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Postvention-1024x590.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Postvention-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Postvention-768x442.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Postvention-1536x885.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Postvention-2048x1180.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Postvention-521x300.jpg 521w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d5e1b87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d5e1b87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Postvention<\/h4>\nPeople who have been affected by a suicide loss need help to work through their grief, whether at school, at work, or in the community.\n<ul>\n \t<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/resource\/what-to-do-after-a-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What to do after a suicide webinar<\/a> by the CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention walks teachers through what to do after a student in the school has died by suicide.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sprc.org\/online-library\/after-suicide-toolkit-schools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools<\/a> by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and the Education Development Center acknowledges that a school community can be deeply affected by a student suicide.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/theactionalliance.org\/resource\/managers-guide-suicide-postvention-workplace-10-action-steps-dealing-aftermath-suicide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A Manager\u2019s Guide to Suicide Postvention in the Workplace<\/a> by the American Association of Suicidology and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention examines how to respond when a suicide occurs in a workplace.<\/li>\n \t<li>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipd.org\/en\/knowledge\/guides\/responding-to-suicide-risk-in-workplace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Responding to suicide risk in the workplace: A guide for people professionals<\/a> the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development provides practical guidance on educating the workforce about suicide and opening up the workplace culture to talk about it.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/resource\/suicide-postvention-resources-for-canadian-communities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suicide Postvention Resources for Canadian Communities<\/a> by the MHCC is a catalogue of postvention resources.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ontario.cmha.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/YSPCollab2_Postvention_EN_v2_Digital-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Postvention across settings and sectors: A resource for community-based service providers<\/a> was prepared by the Ontario Youth Suicide Prevention Life Promotion Collaborative as a guide for community- and education-based providers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-760b8208 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"760b8208\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Risk of suicidality for family and friends of an attempt survivor or someone who died by suicide<\/h4>\nThere is always a potential risk that vulnerable family members or friends who have been exposed to a suicide attempt or a death by suicide may develop thoughts of suicide themselves.\n<ul>\n \t<li>In <a href=\"https:\/\/cmha.ca\/brochure\/preventing-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Preventing Suicide<\/a>, the CMHA Toronto provides tips on how to talk to a family member or friend who may be contemplating suicide.<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Sample script on how to talk to someone who may be having thoughts of suicide:<\/strong>\n\u201cIt sounds like things are really hard for you right now. I can\u2019t imagine what you\u2019re going through, but I know things will get better! Let\u2019s text the distress centre to see what resources they might have that could help. I\u2019m so glad you told me how you\u2019re feeling; I\u2019ve been really worried about you! I feel like it\u2019s a good idea to talk to your parents, too. Want me to come with you?\u201d<sup>3<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Suggested readings:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li>An article entitled \u201cFamilial Transmission of Suicidal Behaviour\u201d looks at the effects that exposure to suicidal behaviours can have on family members.<sup>4<\/sup><\/li>\n \t<li>The Continuum of \u201csurvivorship\u201d: Definitional Issues in the Aftermath of Suicide\u201d is a paper that looks at the impact that suicide has on survivors.<sup>5<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b3ceeb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2b3ceeb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"crisis-line\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3da74b0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3da74b0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Crisis lines and coping tools<\/h3><p>When you are dealing with the shock and aftermath of losing someone to suicide, situations can arise that may increase your level of distress. Don\u2019t expect to be able to manage this distress on your own \u2014 support is available. Keep the following list of resources on your phone or on a piece of paper in your wallet to ensure they are accessible when you need them most. You may also share them with a friend who can remind you of them.<\/p><h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Crisis lines<\/h4><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/988.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">988 Suicide Crisis Helpline<\/a>: a nation-wide crisis line available to call or text 24\/7 (988)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/kidshelpphone.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kids Help Phone<\/a>: a 24-hour, bilingual phone, web, and referral service for children and youth (1-800-668-6868)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopeforwellness.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hope for Wellness Helpline<\/a>: a helpline for Indigenous People (1-855-242-3310)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cfmws.ca\/support-services\/family-information-line\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services\u2019 family information line<\/a>: an information and crisis line for the military community (1-800-866-4546)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bootsontheground.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Boots on the Ground: Peer Support for First Responders<\/a> (1-833-677-2668)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/itgetsbettercanada.org\/get-help\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">It Gets Better Canada<\/a>: a list of crisis lines in Canada for sexual, gender, and racial minorities<\/li><\/ul><h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Contacting a crisis line<\/h4><ul><li>The 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline has a web page describing <a href=\"https:\/\/988.ca\/get-help\/what-to-expect\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">what to expect when you call or text 988<\/a>.<\/li><li>The CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention offers advice on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/ask-help-feeling-suicidal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how to ask for help if you are having thoughts of suicide<\/a>.<\/li><li>Suggested scripts for talking to a helpline:<sup>6<\/sup><ul><li>\u201cHi. I am calling because I need some help. I\u2019m going through some things that are tough and it sometimes feels like I can\u2019t take it anymore. It\u2019s so bad there are times I think about suicide.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cHi. Things are really hard right now. I\u2019m thinking about killing myself.\u201d<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Suggested scripts for texting a helpline:<sup>6<\/sup><ul><li>\u201cI need help. My life is bad right now and I\u2019m thinking about suicide.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about killing myself. Can you help me?\u201d<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-606c21f3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"606c21f3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17b10fb6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"17b10fb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Developing a safety plan<\/h4><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/local_resource\/safety-plans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Safety plans to prevent suicide<\/a> is a toolkit by the CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/create.piktochart.com\/output\/3641390-how-to-create-a-safety-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Things to Consider When Creating a Safety Plan<\/a> is a resource by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideline.org.au\/resource\/making-suicide-safety-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to make a suicide safety plan<\/a> was developed by SuicideLine Victoria (Australia).<\/li><li>Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/sunnybrook.ca\/content\/?page=suicide-attempt-coping-card\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Coping card<\/a> is a practical tool that can help a person make an action plan to cope effectively with an emotional crisis so that they do not engage in suicidal behaviour.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/citeseerx.ist.psu.edu\/document?repid=rep1&amp;type=pdf&amp;doi=5a782c0b032996201c901386b0cfbbf38812775f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Safety Planning Intervention: A Brief Intervention to Mitigate Suicide Risk<\/a> describes an innovative way to reduce suicide risk.<\/li><\/ul><h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Coping strategies for people with thoughts of suicide<\/h4><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/thelifelinecanada.ca\/coping-with-suicidal-thoughts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Coping with Suicidal Thoughts<\/a> by Joti Samra and Dan Bilsker addresses how to cope with thoughts of suicide and other means of keeping yourself safe.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/kidshelpphone.ca\/get-info\/how-cope-thoughts-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How I can cope with thoughts of suicide<\/a> by Kids Help Phone facilitates the conversation around reaching out for help.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a2f1150 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2a2f1150\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59aebdf e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"59aebdf\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68263fba elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"68263fba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Telling your story safely<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-505c6e09 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"505c6e09\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cb3f900 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3cb3f900\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-765dc291 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"765dc291\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Telling your story can be scary. Just as every story related to suicide is personal, the decision to tell your story is personal, and the way you decide to tell that story is up to you. Telling your story can bring great strength; however, be careful to tell your story safely, ensuring your safety and the safety of the person(s) learning from you.<\/p><h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Advocacy and finding hope through stories of suicide loss<\/h4><p>People who have been impacted by suicide, either through a suicide loss or a suicide attempt, may derive a lot of strength and growth from sharing their experience. They can be passionate advocates for suicide prevention and are in a unique position to influence other people\u2019s attitudes about suicide.<sup>7<\/sup><\/p><p>Much of the movement forward in suicide prevention initiatives was originally spearheaded by the advocacy efforts of the loss survivor community. The issue of using safe language to discuss suicide is one example of progress driven by this community. Their efforts to reduce suicide-related stigma in multiple ways are unmatched by any other group working in this field.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f1c6375 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3f1c6375\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38176338 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"38176338\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Heart-and-sunset-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-51262\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Heart-and-sunset-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Heart-and-sunset-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Heart-and-sunset-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Heart-and-sunset-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Heart-and-sunset-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Heart-and-sunset-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ea4ac87 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6ea4ac87\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72c1724d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"72c1724d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57531ae4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"57531ae4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/suicidepreventionmessaging.org\/guidelines_topics\/Telling%20Your%20Own%20Story\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guidelines for Telling Your Own Story<\/a> contains a suite of pertinent resources to help attempt and loss survivors to safely tell their stories, presented by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/afsp.org\/story\/healing-through-advocacy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Healing Through Advocacy<\/a>, by Megan Cole of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, addresses advocacy for people who have experience related to a suicide loss<\/li><li>The CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention has prepared <a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/local_resource\/guidelines-for-sharing-experiences-with-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">guidelines for sharing experiences with suicide<\/a>.<\/li><li>988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline in the United States has created a <a href=\"https:\/\/988lifeline.org\/storytelling-for-suicide-prevention-checklist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Storytelling for Suicide Prevention Checklist<\/a>.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/resource\/sharing-your-story-safely\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sharing your Story Safely<\/a> is a resource by the MHCC.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-509fea33 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"509fea33\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"messages\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5956b9ee e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5956b9ee\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bf5490f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3bf5490f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a3a9abd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7a3a9abd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c23ff3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1c23ff3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Hopeful messages<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68ccf8d7 e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"68ccf8d7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d068bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2d068bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HopefulMessages-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-89100\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HopefulMessages-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HopefulMessages-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HopefulMessages-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HopefulMessages-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HopefulMessages-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HopefulMessages-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58f09c40 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"58f09c40\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Knowing that you are not alone and being able to share hope can be incredibly healing. This section of the toolkit is intended to be a safe space to read and to share online messages of hope with other people. A tremendous amount of hope flowed from the responses of people with lived experience related to suicide who completed our online survey. A sample of them are provided below.<\/p><h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">For people living with a suicide loss<\/h4><p>In the survey, we asked people, \u201cIf you could give one message to other people who have lost someone to suicide, what would it be?\u201d Here are some of their answers:<\/p><ul><li>\u201cIt is not your fault.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cAllow yourself the space and time to grieve.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cIt is also okay to take a break from grieving and allow yourself to enjoy what brings you happiness without feeling guilty.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cIt is okay to talk about your loss.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cAt first it is one second at a time, then one minute at a time, then one hour at a time, one day at a time, one month at a time, one year at a time&#8230;\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cGrief looks very different for everyone: allow yourself to feel whatever emotions that may arise.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cFind support and a listening ear.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cConnect to others who have experienced a loss; it may help to feel connected and talk openly about your experiences.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cYou can try counselling; it did wonders for me!\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cHOPE (Hold On, Pain Ends).\u201d<\/li><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d91ea7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4d91ea7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"suicide\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22ac85bc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"22ac85bc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-213ed717 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"213ed717\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31f06ca8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"31f06ca8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a2bb2fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1a2bb2fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About suicide<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44571a67 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"44571a67\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7dd3dbd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7dd3dbd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For some people, knowing the basic statistics and other important information about suicide can be helpful. This section of the toolkit is designed to remind you that suicide affects everyone and that you are not alone.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c551834 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5c551834\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-178008df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"178008df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size: 22pt; font-weight: bold;\">Background and context<\/h3><h4 style=\"font-size: 15pt; font-weight: bold;\">What is suicide?<\/h4><p>Suicide is defined as the act or instance of taking one\u2019s own life voluntarily and intentionally.<\/p><h4 style=\"font-size: 15pt; font-weight: bold;\">Basic statistics on suicide in Canada<\/h4><p>Canada tracks suicide by age, sex, and geography. Unlike the United States, Canada does not record ethnicity or method of death.<\/p><ul><li>The Government of Canada tracks information on <a href=\"https:\/\/health-infobase.canada.ca\/mental-health\/suicide-self-harm\/suicide-mortality.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">suicide, self-harm, and suicide-related behaviours in Canada<\/a>.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statcan.gc.ca\/tables-tableaux\/sum-som\/l01\/cst01\/hlth66d-eng.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Statistics Canada<\/a> provides a breakdown by age and sex.<\/li><li>The Public Health Agency of Canada has an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/publications\/healthy-living\/suicide-canada-infographic.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">infographic<\/a> that provides statistics on the current context of suicide in Canada.<\/li><li>The CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention has created a resource that provides suicide rates <a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/resource\/cross-canada-comparison-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">across provinces and territories<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13efd59a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"13efd59a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5322ff53 e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5322ff53\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4908ed07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4908ed07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Safe language around suicide<\/h4><p>Some of the traditional language around suicide has negative connotations and, as a result, unintentionally perpetuates stigma. Some examples include \u201ccommitted suicide\u201d (implying criminality), \u201csuccessful suicide\u201d or \u201ccompleted suicide\u201d (implying that the suicide attempt was unsuccessful or incomplete before), and \u201cfailed suicide attempt\u201d (implying a failure).<\/p><p>More neutral, compassionate words should be used when talking about suicide. Here are a few places to find more information:<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.camh.ca\/en\/no-one-left-behind\/help-and-resources\/suicide\/words-matter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Words Matter: Learning how to talk about suicide in a hopeful, respectful way has the power to save lives<\/a> by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/publications\/healthy-living\/language-matters-safe-communication-suicide-prevention.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Language Matters: Safe Communication for Suicide Prevention<\/a> by the Public Health Agency of Canada.<\/li><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30d31ec7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"30d31ec7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SafeLanguage-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-89102\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SafeLanguage-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SafeLanguage-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SafeLanguage-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SafeLanguage-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SafeLanguage-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SafeLanguage-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c8e7d7d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7c8e7d7d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2aca3158 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2aca3158\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Myths and facts about suicide<\/h4>\nStigma can be perpetuated by misinformation and myths about suicide. Some myths are more embedded in society than others and may be harmful to people who have been affected by suicide. To help distinguish myth from fact, here are some helpful resources:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64d5c668 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"64d5c668\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/suicide-prevention\/about-suicide.html#a1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">About suicide<\/a> by the Government of Canada<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/local_resource\/about-suicide-prevention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">About suicide prevention<\/a> by the CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.camh.ca\/en\/no-one-left-behind\/help-and-resources\/suicide\/myths-and-facts-about-suicide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Myths and Facts about Suicide<\/a> by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tspn.org\/?s=Myths%2Babout%2Bsuicide&amp;myths\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facts about suicide<\/a> by the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/what-we-do\/suicide-prevention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suicide Prevention<\/a> by the MHCC, with links to fact sheets on subjects including bullying, injury prevention, trauma-informed care, older adults, men, agriculture, youth, and rural and remote communities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Helpful literature:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/Myths-about-Suicide-Thomas-Joiner\/dp\/0674061985\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Myths about Suicide<\/em><\/a> is a book by Thomas Joiner that sharply debunks myths such as \u201csuicide is selfish,\u201d \u201cif people want to die by suicide, we cannot stop them,\u201d and \u201cit\u2019s just a cry for help.\u201d The book shows why he is considered one of the leaders in the study of suicide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ff01841 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2ff01841\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e003bf9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5e003bf9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c1090b1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1c1090b1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49b70489 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"49b70489\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77843246 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77843246\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"font-size: 20pt; font-weight: bold;\">Why do people attempt to die by suicide?<\/h3>\nNo single cause can explain or predict suicide. Thoughts of suicide or suicide-related behaviours are a result of a combination of personal, social, and cultural factors. These factors differ from person to person over their lifetime\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e151e7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"6e151e7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-656a6f1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"656a6f1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Social determinants of health<\/h4>\n<ul>\n \t<li>According to Mikkonnen and Raphael in their influential publication <a href=\"https:\/\/thecanadianfacts.org\/The_Canadian_Facts-2nd_ed.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts<\/em><\/a>, there are 17 determinants that have a greater bearing on an individual\u2019s health than all other factors:<sup>8<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4417e810 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4417e810\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41551a9b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"41551a9b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dfa4340 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5dfa4340\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Indigenous ancestry<\/li>\n<li>disability<\/li>\n<li>early child development<\/li>\n<li>education<\/li>\n<li>employment and working conditions<\/li>\n<li>food insecurity<\/li>\n<li>geography<\/li>\n<li>globalization<\/li>\n<li>health services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc4be09 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bc4be09\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5de1d1aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5de1d1aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>gender<\/li>\n<li>housing<\/li>\n<li>immigration<\/li>\n<li>income and income distribution<\/li>\n<li>race<\/li>\n<li>social exclusion<\/li>\n<li>social safety net<\/li>\n<li>unemployment and job security<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55e98a69 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"55e98a69\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7670bd81 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7670bd81\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5661fb06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5661fb06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cThe Social and Economic Determinants of Suicide in Canadian Provinces\u201d found a distinct correlation between these determinants and\nsuicide, especially the determinants of unemployment and gender.<sup>9<\/sup> Similarly, a 2025 review found 46 studies showing a strong relationship\nbetween the social determinants of health and suicide-related outcomes.<sup>10<\/sup>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47cfdef3 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"47cfdef3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66e8563f e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"66e8563f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f112801 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f112801\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"980\" height=\"654\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/RiskProtectiveFactors-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-89104\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/RiskProtectiveFactors-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/RiskProtectiveFactors-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/RiskProtectiveFactors-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/RiskProtectiveFactors-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/RiskProtectiveFactors-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/RiskProtectiveFactors-450x300.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3347bca4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3347bca4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Risk and protective factors<\/h4>\nThe Suicide Prevention Resource Center defines risk factors and protective factors in a simple and straightforward way: \u201cRisk factors are characteristics that make it more likely that individuals will consider, attempt, or die by suicide. Protective factors are characteristics that make it less likely that individuals will consider, attempt, or die by suicide.\u201d<sup>11<\/sup> Please note that even if a person has protective factors, it does not mean that they will not move on to attempt suicide.\n<ul>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/afsp.org\/risk-factors-protective-factors-and-warning-signs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs<\/a> by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/suicide-prevention\/suicide-risks-prevention.html#a1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suicide: risks and prevention<\/a> by the Government of Canada<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-438e1a5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"438e1a5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56f8c344 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"56f8c344\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40596069 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"40596069\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">The role of trauma and childhood experiences<\/h4><p><br \/><strong>What is trauma?<\/strong><\/p><p>According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, trauma is &#8220;a term used to describe the challenging emotional consequences that living through a distressing event can have for an individual. Traumatic events can be difficult to define because the same event may be more traumatic for some people than for others. However, traumatic events experienced early in life, such as abuse, neglect and disrupted attachment, can often be devastating. Equally challenging can be later life experiences that are out of one\u2019s control, such as a serious accident, being the victim of violence, living through a natural disaster or war, or sudden unexpected loss.&#8221; <sup>12<\/sup><\/p><p>Unresolved trauma in childhood and adolescence is linked to an increased risk for suicide ideation. If it is not addressed, it can escalate with age \u2014 potentially leading to suicide attempts or death by suicide. Early intervention after trauma is crucial.<sup> 13,14,15<\/sup><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/resource\/trauma-informed-care-and-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trauma-Informed Care and Suicide<\/a> fact sheet by the MHCC<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cptsdfoundation.org\/2021\/09\/20\/the-link-between-complex-trauma-and-suicidal-ideation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Link Between Complex Trauma and Suicidal Ideation<\/a> by the CPTSD Foundation<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4294eb9d elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4294eb9d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" id=\"resources\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-200cf1a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"200cf1a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45734d54 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"45734d54\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Additional Resources<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13612aaf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"13612aaf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Some people find that immersing themselves in training and additional reading can be healing. This section of the toolkit provides some additional tools and other resources to help you gain the knowledge and courage you need to have conversations about suicide.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76c1f3d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76c1f3d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Training programs for suicide prevention<\/h4>\n<ul>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/livingworks.net\/training\/livingworks-asist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)<\/a> is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may be having thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan for their immediate safety. It is offered by <a href=\"https:\/\/livingworks.net\/training\/livingworks-asist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LivingWorks<\/a> and by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/workshop\/asist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention<\/a> in Alberta.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.livingworks.net\/safetalk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">safeTALK<\/a> is a 3.5-hour workshop that equips people to be more alert to the signs that someone is thinking of suicide and to be better able to connect them with further help. It is offered by <a href=\"https:\/\/livingworks.net\/training\/livingworks-safetalk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LivingWorks<\/a> and by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/workshop\/safe-talk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CMHA Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention<\/a> in Alberta.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/livingworks.net\/training\/livingworks-start\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Start<\/a> is an online, skills-based suicide prevention training program that anyone can complete in as little as one hour. It is offered by <a href=\"https:\/\/livingworks.net\/training\/livingworks-start\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LivingWorks<\/a>.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/openingminds.org\/training\/mhfa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mental Health First Aid<\/a> provides practical knowledge and skills to support a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health or substance use crisis, until professional help is available. It is offered by <a href=\"https:\/\/openingminds.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Opening Minds<\/a> at the MHCC. Opening Minds also provides workplace mental health training through <a href=\"https:\/\/openingminds.org\/training\/twm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Working Mind<\/a> and mental health and stigma reduction training for educational and student settings through <a href=\"https:\/\/openingminds.org\/training\/tim\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Inquiring Mind<\/a>.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/qprinstitute.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Question Persuade and Refer (QPR)<\/a>\u2019s mission is to reduce suicidal behaviours and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training. This training is offered by the <a href=\"https:\/\/qprinstitute.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">QPR Institute<\/a>.<\/li>\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/stormskillstraining.com\/suicide-prevention-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Self-harm and Suicide Prevention Training<\/a> provides high-quality, effective, evidence-based self-harm and suicide prevention training supported by a wealth of research, experience, and expertise. It is offered by <a href=\"https:\/\/stormskillstraining.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Storm Skills Training<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-374a2db5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"374a2db5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Mobile apps<\/h4>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Mobile apps can help you to cope following a suicide loss or can provide other mental health support. The <a href=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/app-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Assessment Framework for Mental Health Apps<\/a> by the MHCC is a national framework outlining key criteria for safe, quality, and effective mental health apps in Canada. This framework helps identify which apps meet the national criteria and will feature them online in the future.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77d443d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77d443d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">Other reading<\/h4>\n<strong>Books<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Andriessen, K., Krysinka, K. &amp; Grad, O. (2017). <em>Postvention in action: The international handbook of suicide bereavement support<\/em>. Hogrefe\nBooks.<\/li>\n \t<li>Devine, M. (2017).<em> It\u2019s OK that you\u2019re not OK: Meeting grief and loss in a culture that doesn&#8217;t understand<\/em>. Sounds True.<\/li>\n \t<li>Jordan, J., &amp; McIntosh, J. (Ed.) (2011). <em>Grief after suicide: Understanding the consequences and caring for the survivors.<\/em> Routledge.<\/li>\n \t<li>K\u00fcbler-Ross, E., &amp; Kessler, D. (2005).<em> On grief and grieving: Finding the meaning of grief through the five stages of loss<\/em>. Scribner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Academic studies<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Praetorius, R., &amp; Rivedal, J. (2020). Navigating out of the ocean of \u201cwhy\u201d \u2014 A qualitative study of the trajectory of suicide bereavement. <em>Illness, Crisis, &amp; Loss, 28<\/em>(<em>4<\/em>), 347-362. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1054137317741714\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1054137317741714<\/a><\/li>\n \t<li>Sanford, R., Cerel, J., McGann, V., &amp; Maple, M. (2016). Suicide loss survivors\u2019 experiences with therapy: Implications for clinical practice. <em>Community Mental Health Journal, 52<\/em>(<em>2<\/em>), 551-558. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10597-016-0006-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10597-016-0006-6<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-115fc437 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"115fc437\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5bd5d03d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5bd5d03d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d0bd44b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7d0bd44b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8787c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8787c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Acknowledgments<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-640835ca e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"640835ca\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e0e2fab e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5e0e2fab\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a688913 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7a688913\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-418f22e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"418f22e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The development and refresh of this document was made possible through the input, feedback, and guidance of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention; the Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division and Centre for Suicide Prevention; the Public Health Agency of Canada; and people with lived experience related to suicide.<\/p><h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">This original document was informed\/developed by:<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a74b343 e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5a74b343\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7feadc85 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7feadc85\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0<strong>Advisory Committee members: <\/strong><\/p><ol><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ol><li>Ally Campbell<\/li><li>Amanee Elchehimi<\/li><li>Andrea Rowe<\/li><li>Austin Mardon<\/li><li>Chris Summerville<\/li><li>John Dick<\/li><li>Katherine Tapley<\/li><li>Melynda Ehaloak<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2767dc20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2767dc20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Working Group members:<\/strong><\/p><ol><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ol><li>Rebecca Sanford<\/li><li>Robert Olson<\/li><li>Jodie Golden<\/li><li>Yvonne Bergmans<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49e4182e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"49e4182e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28a10c21 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"28a10c21\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56e4aa6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"56e4aa6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;\">The review and update of the content was informed by:<\/h4>\n<ol>\n \t<li>Anita David<\/li>\n \t<li>Alisha Haseeb<\/li>\n \t<li>Joannie Fogue<\/li>\n \t<li>Nagi Abouzeid<\/li>\n \t<li>Ubah Mohamoud<\/li>\n \t<li>Yvonne Bergmans<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nThese individuals added value, experience, and rigour to this toolkit, and the Mental Health Commission of Canada is grateful for their contributions in the development of this project.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f21ef4 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4f21ef4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-322a0c15 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"322a0c15\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3408ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f3408ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">References<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11ce476f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"11ce476f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol><li>Survivors of Suicide Task Force. (2015). <em>Responding to grief, trauma, and distress after a suicide: U.S. national guidelines<\/em>. National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. p. 13.<\/li><li>Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division, and Centre for Suicide Prevention. (2023). <em>Peer support in suicide prevention.<\/em><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/local_resource\/peer-support-in-suicide-prevention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/local_resource\/peer-support-in-suicide-prevention\/<\/a><\/li><li>Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division, and Centre for Suicide Prevention. (2021). <em>How to help someone thinking about suicide.<\/em><\/li><li>Brent, D. A., &amp; Melhem, N. (2008). Familial transmission of suicidal behavior. <em>Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 31<\/em>(<em>2<\/em>), 157-77.<\/li><li>Cerel, J., McIntosh, J., Neimeyer, R., Maple, M., &amp; Marshall, D. (2014). The continuum of \u201csurvivorship\u201d: Definitional issues in the aftermath of suicide. <em>Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior<\/em>, <em>44<\/em>(<em>6<\/em>), 591-600.<\/li><li>Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division, and Centre for Suicide Prevention. (2018). <em>How to ask for help if you are having thoughts of <\/em><em>suicide<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/ask-help-feeling-suicidal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/ask-help-feeling-suicidal\/<\/a><\/li><li>Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division, and Centre for Suicide Prevention. (2020). <em>Guidelines for sharing experiences with suicide<\/em>.<br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/local_resource\/guidelines-for-sharing-experiences-with-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.suicideinfo.ca\/local_resource\/guidelines-for-sharing-experiences-with-suicide\/<\/a><\/li><li>Mikkonen, J., &amp; Raphael, D. (2010). <em>Social determinants of health: The Canadian facts<\/em>. York University School of Health Policy and Management. <a href=\"http:\/\/thecanadianfacts.org\/the_canadian_facts.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/thecanadianfacts.org\/the_canadian_facts.pdf<\/a><\/li><li>Jalles, J., &amp; Andresen, M. (2015). The social and economic determinants of suicide in Canadian provinces. <em>Health Economics Review<\/em>, 5, 1. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13561-015-0041-y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13561-015-0041-y<\/a><\/li><li>Na, P., Shin, J., &amp; Kwak, H. (2025). Social determinants of health and suicide-related outcomes: A review of meta-analyses. <em>JAMA Psychiatry<\/em>, <em>82<\/em>(<em>4<\/em>), 337-46. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamapsychiatry.2024.4241\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jamapsychiatry.2024.4241<\/a><\/li><li>Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (2011). <em>Understanding risk and protective factors for suicide: A primer for preventing suicide risk.<\/em> Education Development Center. <a href=\"https:\/\/sprc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RiskProtectiveFactorsPrimer.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/sprc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/RiskProtectiveFactorsPrimer.pdf<\/a><\/li><li>Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2025). <em>Trauma<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.camh.ca\/en\/health-info\/mental-illness-and-addiction-index\/trauma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.camh.ca\/en\/health-info\/mental-illness-and-addiction-index\/trauma<\/a><\/li><li>Dube, S., Anda, R., Felitti, V., Chapman, D., Williamson, D., &amp; Giles, W. (2001). Childhood abuse, household dysfunction, and the risk of attempted suicide throughout the life span: Findings from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. <em>Journal of the American Medical Association<\/em>, 286(<em>24<\/em>), 3089-96. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jama.286.24.3089\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1001\/jama.286.24.3089<\/a><\/li><li>Herba, C., Ferdinand, R., van der Ende, J., &amp; Verhulst, F. (2007). Long-term associations of childhood suicide ideation. <em>Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry<\/em>, <em>46<\/em>(<em>11<\/em>), 1473-81. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/chi.0b013e318149e66f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/chi.0b013e318149e66f<\/a><\/li><li>Zotti, C., Rosa, V., Barros, A., Valdivia, L., Calegaro, V., Freitas, L., Cereser, K., da Rocha, N., Bastos, A., &amp; Such, F. (2017). Childhood trauma and suicide attempt: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies from the last decade. Psychiatry Research, 256, 353-358. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.psychres.2017.06.082\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.psychres.2017.06.082<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56016383 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"56016383\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-228f4186 e-con-full e-grid e-con e-child\" data-id=\"228f4186\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c2fd864 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2c2fd864\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/dev-mhcc.pantheonsite.io\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"226\" height=\"86\" src=\"https:\/\/mentalhealthcommission.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/white-logo-1.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-88024\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ad66e5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3ad66e5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79c5314e elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"79c5314e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- ss page hide and show -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\njQuery(document).ready(function(){\n  jQuery(\".ss-sidebarmenu\").hide;\n});\n<\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6118929d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6118929d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a9 2025 Mental Health Commission of Canada<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction Strategies and coping suggestions Telling your story safely Hopeful messages About suicide Additional resources Crisis Line Back to top Fran\u00e7ais Suicide Prevention Toolkits Toolkit for people who have been impacted by a suicide loss The Mental Health Commission of Canada, in collaboration with the\u00a0Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, the\u00a0Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":157,"featured_media":89089,"parent":0,"template":"elementor_canvas","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[808,192],"tags":[],"program":[],"program-area":[135],"audience":[],"covid-hub-category":[],"health-canada":[828],"class_list":["post-90095","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-public-resources","category-toolkits","program-area-suicide-prevention","health-canada-prevention"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v28.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Toolkit for people who have been impacted by a suicide loss - Mental Health Commission of Canada<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Introduction Strategies and coping suggestions Telling your story safely Hopeful messages About suicide Additional 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