With the holidays fast approaching, it's important to remember not everyone has family or friends to celebrate with and Christmas is a difficult time for many people.
As B.C. rapidly ages, the call volume from seniors to the crisis centre has begun to climb. In 2005, calls from seniors made up six per cent of total calls and so far in 2011, it's almost 25 per cent, according to Ian Ross, executive director of the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of B.C.
"Suicide is preventable, and it's everyone's business," said Ross.
The latest available data from the B.C. Coroner shows that of 478 suicides in 2008, 44 per cent involved people over 50. Twenty six per cent involved people over 60.
The crisis centre is responding with a 24/7 distress line dedicated to seniors that launched in November and staffed with senior volunteers, said Ross.
Ross added that B.C. does have a suicide prevention plan, but Canada, unlike most western societies, doesn't have a federal plan.
"[B.C.'s prevention] effort would be so much more powerful if it was connected to a national strategy," said Ross.
Some of the danger signs are:
History of mental illness
Talking about suicide
Poor social integration, lack of social network, seclusion
Living far away from relatives
Loss of interest in things that were previously enjoyable
Physical illness
bereavement
The Prince George Council of Seniors has a peer support program, which provides free and confidential peer support for seniors based on principles of self-help and empowerment. Trained senior volunteers provide non-judgmental emotional support to promote wellness and reduce social isolation.
It's a free and confidential one-on-one service provided by the volunteers of the council.
Referrals to the senior peer support program can be made by a phone call to the PGCOS program co-ordinator at 250-564-5888 ext. 12.
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