Next Tuesday marks World Suicide Prevention Day.
The Nipissing First Nation and West Nipissing Suicide Prevention Task Force are inviting the community to join in the lighting a Flame of Hope at Minnehaha Bay at 10:30am that day.
“Suicide prevention remains a universal challenge. Every year, suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally for people of all ages. It is responsible for over 800,000 deaths, which equates to one suicide every 40 seconds,” according to the World Suicide Prevention Day website.
“Every life lost represents someone’s partner, child, parent, friend or colleague. For each suicide, approximately 135 people suffer intense grief or are otherwise affected. This amounts to 108 million people per year who are profoundly impacted by suicidal behaviour. Suicidal behaviour includes suicide and also encompasses suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. For every suicide, 25 people make a suicide attempt and many more have serious thoughts of suicide.”
A suicide prevention information session will take place after the lighting of the flame at the Lawrence Commanda Health Centre at 2:30pm.