As a family member who has lost a relative to suicide, my heart goes out to all the families and friends who have experienced such a profound loss.
As a mental health professional I am reminded of the power of language to stigmatize such a traumatic event every time I read that an individual has committed suicide.
The Mental Health First Aid Canada course reminds us that "suicide in not a criminal act" and use of this term does not describe reality nor respect the needs of those left behind.
Suicide, death by suicide and died by suicide do reflect reality and respects the needs of family members and friends for empathy, understanding and support for their loss and grief. For all the family members and friends affected by suicide and any mental illness or addictions there is a network of peers in the north that offers help.
The Family Alliance on Mental Illness - Leaders in Involvement, Empowerment and Support (FAMILIES) provide possibilities for family support, education, systems navigation and advocacy.
FAMILIES sees possibilities for professional training to meet the needs of families, family participation in planning and evaluation of services and families as partners in mental illness and addictions treatment.
Connect with other FAMILIES for help and to create possibilities - by calling 250-561-8033 - or e-mail [email protected]
Kim Dixon
Regional Manager, FAMILIES
Prince George
