henric
03-12-2012, 07:33 AM
by Sameer Vasta
A private member's bill to create a national framework for suicide prevention is an extremely important piece of legislation that we should not be ignoring.
A few months ago, the Center for Disease Control in the USA released a report that showed that, for the first time in recent history, homicide was no longer one of the top 15 causes of death in the country. This was heralded as a huge step; rightfully so, because it was.
What was sometimes ignored, though, was that the report showed that self-harm and suicide was still in the top 10 leading causes of death in the country. The fact is sobering once you think about it: of all the ways to die, killing yourself was so prevalent that it was among the top ten causes of death in the entire United States.
The problem isn't simply limited to our neighbors on the other side of the border; suicide is a pressing issue here in Canada and around the world. Last month, Bill C-300, the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention Act, was passed in the House, and the bill is currently being debated in the Commons health committee. Denise Batters', the widow of former MP Dave Batters who committed suicide while on leave for depression, spoke at the committee hearings today about this important issue.
The importance of a national dialogue and framework for suicide prevention is high. According to a statement made by MP Harold Albrecht in the House last month, in an average week, "there have likely been 350 hospitalizations due to suicidal behaviours, 1,500 visits to emergency rooms, 7,000 attempts at suicide and, unfortunately, 70 of those likely ending in death." Suicide is not something to be taken lightly.
Why have a framework introduced at the highest level of government instead of leaving it with our health care and social work professionals? The answer is simple: not having a national discourse around suicide and mental health only serves to increase the stigma that it already has. The best way to stop suicide is to acknowledge that it exists, and to acknowledge that people suffering from mental illness that would drive them to self-harm need to be supported rather than stigmatized. A national framework for that kind of support is crucial to remove the stigma.
As someone who has lived with mental illness over the past decade and who is currently working with professionals to help deal with the manifestations of that illness due to recent emotional trauma, I understand that the best thing I did to preserve my health was to ask for help. Luckily, I was, and am, surrounded by people who acknowledge the impact of mental illness and emotional trauma, and who continue to encourage me to get the help I needed.
Not everyone is as lucky as I am — some people do not have the same kinds of support networks and loved ones who know what to do in case of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. For those people, a framework around suicide prevention could literally be life-saving. A national awareness of the prevalence, impact, and methods to deal with suicide and mental illness would do so much to help the people who feel like they can't turn to anyone in their time of need.
Bill C-300 should be supported by the Commons health committee. It's obvious: we should be doing more to help the people who feel like they can't be helped anymore.
A private member's bill to create a national framework for suicide prevention is an extremely important piece of legislation that we should not be ignoring.
A few months ago, the Center for Disease Control in the USA released a report that showed that, for the first time in recent history, homicide was no longer one of the top 15 causes of death in the country. This was heralded as a huge step; rightfully so, because it was.
What was sometimes ignored, though, was that the report showed that self-harm and suicide was still in the top 10 leading causes of death in the country. The fact is sobering once you think about it: of all the ways to die, killing yourself was so prevalent that it was among the top ten causes of death in the entire United States.
The problem isn't simply limited to our neighbors on the other side of the border; suicide is a pressing issue here in Canada and around the world. Last month, Bill C-300, the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention Act, was passed in the House, and the bill is currently being debated in the Commons health committee. Denise Batters', the widow of former MP Dave Batters who committed suicide while on leave for depression, spoke at the committee hearings today about this important issue.
The importance of a national dialogue and framework for suicide prevention is high. According to a statement made by MP Harold Albrecht in the House last month, in an average week, "there have likely been 350 hospitalizations due to suicidal behaviours, 1,500 visits to emergency rooms, 7,000 attempts at suicide and, unfortunately, 70 of those likely ending in death." Suicide is not something to be taken lightly.
Why have a framework introduced at the highest level of government instead of leaving it with our health care and social work professionals? The answer is simple: not having a national discourse around suicide and mental health only serves to increase the stigma that it already has. The best way to stop suicide is to acknowledge that it exists, and to acknowledge that people suffering from mental illness that would drive them to self-harm need to be supported rather than stigmatized. A national framework for that kind of support is crucial to remove the stigma.
As someone who has lived with mental illness over the past decade and who is currently working with professionals to help deal with the manifestations of that illness due to recent emotional trauma, I understand that the best thing I did to preserve my health was to ask for help. Luckily, I was, and am, surrounded by people who acknowledge the impact of mental illness and emotional trauma, and who continue to encourage me to get the help I needed.
Not everyone is as lucky as I am — some people do not have the same kinds of support networks and loved ones who know what to do in case of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. For those people, a framework around suicide prevention could literally be life-saving. A national awareness of the prevalence, impact, and methods to deal with suicide and mental illness would do so much to help the people who feel like they can't turn to anyone in their time of need.
Bill C-300 should be supported by the Commons health committee. It's obvious: we should be doing more to help the people who feel like they can't be helped anymore.