Mobile Crisis in Prince Albert believes there have been strides made in suicide prevention over the past three years. (Rob Mahon/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Suicide Prevention Efforts

Mobile Crisis notes improvement on 3-year anniversary of provincial suicide prevention plan

May 8, 2023 | 4:00 PM

On May 8, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were in full effect and the province was getting used to a new way of living, the Government of Saskatchewan unveiled Pillars for Life: The Saskatchewan Suicide Prevention Plan with the goal of reducing risk factors related to suicide. Three years to the day later, they’re touting the program’s successes.

Those successes have been felt in the Prince Albert area, as Mobile Crisis has noticed some positive steps in suicide prevention during that time as well.

“There has been a few things put in place, especially with COVID with everyone being secluded,” said Vicki Stewart, executive director with Prince Albert Mobile Crisis. “Phone lines have improved, as well as national lines… We have our crisis line that comes through, and that’s available to anyone.”

One aspect the province singled out in their release was the Roots of Hope program in La Ronge, Meadow Lake, and Buffalo Narrows. Mobile Crisis in Prince Albert does work with people from the La Ronge area as well, and they’ve started to notice a change.

“I think across Canada they’ve done a really good job teaming up with other agencies,” said Stewart. “RCMP, mental health, addictions, our sexual assault centre covers La Ronge as well, so we’ve kind of been part of that as well… I think plans to get everybody engaged have happened and we’re working really hard to get supports in place.”

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Some of the improvement the province touts may be societal. According to Stewart, the conversation around mental health concerns and the issue of suicide has changed a lot in the last three years, and was changing a lot even before that.

“Education is always the key, just to help people understand,” she said. “I do believe people feel more supported now that we’re talking about it. I think it’s part of education in the schools, even in workplaces where employers seem to be more aware of struggles people have and how to connect them to ongoing services.”

As for how we can eventually get the number of suicides in Saskatchewan as close to zero as possible, Stewart said supporting programs like theirs is a big step.

“The programs that are being implemented like Talk Suicide,” she said, “those kinds of things, the province’s 10-year action plan is working toward all of those things.”

The number of suicides in Saskatchewan slightly fell from 2019 to 2020, but rose back to pre-pandemic levels last year with 218. However, that rise comes after an increase in population overall to over 1.2 million people for the first time ever.

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If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of self-harm or experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact:

Canada Suicide Prevention Service (1-833-456-4566), Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Service (306-933-6200), Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit (306-764-1011), Regina Mobile Crisis Services (306-525-5333) or the Hope for Wellness Help Line, which provides culturally competent crisis intervention counseling support for Indigenous peoples at (1-855-242-3310).

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP