113 Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers • “I’m struggling, but I don’t want to have to rely on others for help… I don’t want to be a burden.” If you notice any of the following signs, get the person help immediately – call 9-1-1 or the Canada-wide crisis line at 1-833-456-4566: • Threatening to hurt or kill themselves • Talking or writing about dying or suicide • Seeking out ways to kill themselves (American Association of Suicidology, 2020) What can we all do to help reduce suicide among people in rural and remote communities? Individually, we can create a safe space for people to share and express emotions through open, non-judgmental conversation and gentle questioning.We can also check in regularly with the people in our lives.This helps build connection and trust. If someone you know is exhibiting warning signs, talk with them.You can start by mentioning your concerns: “I haven’t heard from you much these days. Is everything okay?” Keep the conversation going by asking questions and listening to what they’re saying. You don’t have to offer solutions. If you’re still worried about them, ask:“Are you thinking about suicide?” If they say yes, don’t panic. Let them know you’re there for them and help them access mental health supports, including giving them the crisis line number, 1-833-456-4566. What can rural and remote communities do to help reduce suicide? • Rural and remote communities can ensure access to the mental health supports that are available in-person, online, or by phone (Rojas et al., 2020). They can make people aware of these supports through information campaigns, including campaigns about suicide prevention, that reduce stigma and increase help seeking and help offering. • Community programs or campaigns that de-stigmatize men’s depression and suicide and address the “dominant ideals of masculinity” can be effective for preventing suicide in rural settings (Creighton et al., 2017). • Rural home care providers may consider training their workers in suicide prevention to help prevent deaths (Gomez et al., 2020; Neufeld et al., 2015;Arbore, 2019) • Healthcare providers can identify people who may be thinking about suicide by being alert to subtle cues that may indicate they are struggling, such as body language and tone of voice. Better training is needed to ensure that these professionals are able to detect depression (Ogrodniczuk & Oliffe, 2011; Paraschakis et al., 2016). www.suicideinfo.ca Rural and remote communities and suicide prevention (continued)
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