Content warning: Suicide prevention
If you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide, call the Edmonton and Area Distress Line at 780‑482‑4357. You can also go to the 伊人直播’s Need Help Now page for a list of on and off-campus services.
Suicide is a serious and complex issue, with data suggesting that 12 Canadians die by suicide every day. As faculty and staff, we are not immune to the stressors that can affect our well-being. The responsibilities of our roles, balancing work and personal life, and navigating challenging situations can all take a toll.
By normalizing conversations around suicide and mental health, we can help people access life-promoting pathways and remove the shame and stigma that often prevent individuals from seeking help. Checking in with colleagues, peers and students, and seeking support when needed, employees contribute to a culture of well-being every day. Small actions can make a significant impact.
on Sept. 10 is a powerful reminder that we each play a vital role in fostering a caring campus community, a key component of the 伊人直播 People Strategy and our Culture of Care. It's important to remember mental health concerns can affect anyone. Taking the time to acknowledge this issue is another way we can collectively feel empowered, energized and supported.
To help build the skill and confidence needed for supportive mental health or suicide prevention conversations, the university offers a variety of training:
Specifically for faculty and staff:
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches participants to recognize the signs of mental health problems and crises, and to provide initial support until professional help can be found.
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a comprehensive two-day workshop in suicide first aid that teaches participants to recognize when someone may be considering suicide and work with them to create a safety plan. This is offered several times per year.
For faculty, staff and students:
- Counselling and Clinical services offers weekly workshops intended to help build skills and self knowledge for caring for ourselves.
- teaches faculty and staff to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how to have a direct conversation about it, and how to connect individuals with professional help.
- How to Have a Supportive Conversation training provides practical skills for daily interactions with colleagues and students, building on your natural ability to help support others' mental health and well-being.
While these training sessions are invaluable, World Suicide Prevention Day serves as a reminder that a culture of care starts with each of us. Whether it's taking a moment to listen with kindness and empathy or simply asking a colleague how they're doing, your actions can make a difference.
Additonal resources:
- Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is available 24/7 for support
- World Suicide Prevention Day
- Workplace Suicide Prevention
- Days of Action