Recap: CSP Called to Witness to Senate Committee

This past Monday, May 14, 2012 the Centre for Suicide Prevention presented to the Senate Committee for Human Rights on Cyber Bullying and Its Relationship to Suicide.

Suzanne McLeod, Curriculum Developer and Robert Olson, Librarian witnessed to the Senate based on our research of Cyber Bullying and Suicide.

Click here for more information on this Senate Meeting
Click here for the article: Senate Committee studies impact of cyberbullying on Canadian children and youth
Click here for the full video

CSP Staff Members Robert Olson, Librarian (Left), and Suzanne McLeod, Curriculum Developer (Right) witness to the Senate Committee for Human Rights on Cyber Bullying and Its Relationship to Suicide on May 14, 2012.

Suzanne McLeod, Curriculum Developer

Robert Olson, Librarian

CSP called to Witness for Senate Committee

The Centre for Suicide Prevention has been honoured to be called to Witness for the Senate Committee of Human Rights. CSP has been summoned to present our research about cyber bullying in relation to suicide and provide recommendations.

“A person’s response to bullying and cyber bullying reflects the complexity of human behaviour and psychology. As tragic as the outcome of suicide is, it is virtually impossible to predict how a person will react to outside pressures. All we can do is provide the tools to mitigate, support and perceive possible risks for all those involved.”
- Centre for Suicide Prevention, Presentation to Senate

CSP will be presenting to the Committee in Ottawa on Monday, May 14, 2012 at approximately 5:30 p.m. EST, 3:30 p.m. MTN. Our presentation, Cyber Bullying and its Relationship to Suicide will be presented by CSP Staff Members Suzanne McLeod, Curriculum Developer and Robert Olson, Librarian.

Click here for the live webcast

CSP on CBC’s the Homestretch

CSP’s Curriculum Developer Suzanne McLeod was interviewed by Karen Moxley of CBC for a segment called “Suicide rates in native communities.” The interview aired April 30, 2012, on the Homestretch and was part of a week- long series on Aboriginal Languages.

Suzanne spoke about Aboriginal languages being a form of cultural continuity and how this can be a protective factor for Aboriginal youth, as it provides a sense of belonging and identity for them.

Suzanne also mentions the River of Life: Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Online Course, as the course also encourages cultural continuity as a protective factor for youth.

Listen to the full segment here

CSP attending suicide prevention Think Tank

CSP’s Education Director, Mara Grunau, is in Ottawa, Ontario attending a Think Tank session as part of the National Collaborative for Suicide Prevention.

The Collaborative is sponsored by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention (CASP), and Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).

The Centre for Suicide Prevention was invited along with other suicide prevention organizations to attend this Think Tank.

“The overall aim of this collaborative is to increase the capacity for effective suicide prevention by connecting people, ideas, and overall resources on a pan-Canadian level.” – MHCC Website

Morning sessions consisted of presentations from researchers, while the afternoon sessions will be facilitated small groups. The Centre for Suicide Prevention is honoured to be invited to this coming together of ideas on suicide prevention!

Visit the Collaborative’s website for more information on what is planned for the day!

National Collaborative for Suicide Prevention Website
Think Tank Information
Presentations

New Additions to the Store

We’ve added some great new items to the CSP Store!
The “River of Life Poster” features a quote from Elder Casey Eagle Speaker, which is used in our River of Life: Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Online Course.

We’ve also added our two Resource Toolkits, which are free to download and are now available in hard copy!

Check out the links below to view these new items.

Store
River of Life Poster
Seniors Suicide Prevention (Plus 65) Resource Toolkit
Men and Suicide Resource Toolkit
 

UPDATE: Our infoExchange issues are now available in the store as well!
infoExchange

The “Bully” Movie

Yesterday CSP Staffers were privileged to attend the advanced screening of the “Bully” movie.

This was a great film highlighting the victims of bullying and the devastating measures (including suicide) they take when pushed too far by the mental and physical abuse of their antagonists.

The main message of “Bully” is a call to action: “Stop Bullying. Speak Up!”

The movie also highlights the lack of awareness of bullying, and the absence of action against it, and how this can create unsafe environments for children, particularly in schools.

This movie will be playing in theatres across Canada, check your local listings for show times.

Movie Website
Movie Trailer

News Coverage
Global TV Calgary, Video
“Bully Movie makes debut”

CSP Bullying Resources
Straight Talk- Youth Suicide Prevention Workshop
Cyberbullying Special Features (General Population and Aboriginal)

New Study released by CMAJ

“Suicide among children and adolescents in Canada: trends and sex differences, 1980-2008”

 A new study was released today by the Canadian Medical Association Journal, which focused on suicide trends and sex differences over the span of 28 years. 

Their interpretation reads: “Our results show that suicide rates in Canada are increasing among female children and adolescents and decreasing among male children and adolescents…”

Click here for the full study with abstract

Since this study was so heavily covered by Canadian Media, we’ve created a list of links which includes all media coverage.

PostMedia News
“Suicide rates among Canadian girls rising”
Picked up by: Montreal Gazette, Vancouver Sun, Ottawa Citizen, The Province, The Star Phoenix Saskatoon, Calgary Herald, Leader Post, Victoria Times Colonist, Windsor Star, Nanaimo Daily News, Regina Leader-Post, Windsor Star, Edmonton Journal

Canadian Press
“Suicide among females 10-19 up slightly, males down: study”
Picked up by: CTV News, Hamilton Spectator, CityNews Toronto, 680 News Calgary, News 1130 Vancouver, 570 News Waterloo, Brandon Sun, Lethbridge Herald, Winnipeg Free Press, Global Saskatoon, Global Montreal, Global BC, Global Edmonton, Global Winnipeg, Global Regina, Global Toronto

QMI Agency
“Suicide rates among Canadian girls rising”
Picked up by: Canoe, Vancouver 24 Hours, Calgary 24 Hours 

Toronto Star
“Suicide rates among girls going up, but decreasing for boys: CMHAJ study”

CBC Health
“Suicide rate rises for teen girls, Suffocation shifting to younger ages”

Globe and Mail
“Youth suicide rates rising among Canadian girls”

CFJC TV7 (Kamloops)
“Report in Canadian Medical Journal shows youth suicide rates falling”

Global TV (Calgary)
“Suicide rates” Video

Spring Workshops Now Posted

CSP has just posted our Spring Workshops, including  Straight Talk: Youth Suicide Prevention, Tattered Teddies: Preventing Suicide in Children, and safeTALK: suicide awareness for everyone.

Register online here

It’s Everybody’s Business - Learning Symposium Wrap Up

Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in our learning symposium last week! It went great!

Click here to check out the Symposium website which is now updated with Media Coverage, the Live Twitter Feed of the Symposium, and a Photo Gallery! 

New things coming next week are presentation notes and powerpoint slides!

Symposium Website 

It’s Everybody’s Business: Alberta Communities Take Action to Reduce Suicide is 1 Day Away!
The Centre for Suicide Prevention (CSP) and Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research (ACICR) are doing final preparations for tomorrow’s symposium! We’re all very excited and hope to see you there!

Click here to find out more and to register

The ACICR ladies arrive from Edmonton!
Patti Stark (ACICR), Sharon Schooler (ACICR) and Mara Grunau (CSP)

Our executive director ready for the symposium!
Diane Yackel (CSP)

Teddy is ready!

Stuffing folders for the symposium
Sharon Schooler (ACICR)

Handing out certificates after the Tattered Teddies workshop
Andrea Carlucci (CSP Trainer) 

Registration for our FREE workshops!
Bobbie Jo Racette (CSP) and Ed Yuen (CSP)

Robert attending the Tattered Teddies workshop!
Robert Olson (CSP) 

Tattered Teddies Workshop (morning session)

March 6, 2012 - Keynote Speaker Bill Wilkerson with Ken Lima-Coelho at CBC Calgary’s studios for an interview for the Home Stretch.