10 September 2024

Suicide prevention and suicide prevention education is everyone's business. 

On this year's World Suicide prevention Day (WSPD) 2024, we reflect on the current narrative that we face when talking about suicide, suicidality, or a suicide attempt with our friends, family, community members, and everyone else within our society. This year, we focus around the theme of working to change that narrative of stigma around suicide and mental health into a more open conversation of dialog and increased knowledge about suicide. 

Building on the Hope Through Action theme last year, we continue to pledge to work together to ensure that hope is never out of reach for anyone while also working to advocate for a change in the narrative through our daily conversations around mental health, suicide, and suicide prevention. 

Earlier this year I released my 2024 Calls of Action for Mental Health where I called on the Government of Canada and other applicable entities to work to urgently create a National Suicide Prevention Strategy as well as ensure the proper funding and accessibility needs of the National 988 Suicide and Crisis Line that was implemented in November of 2023, among other things. While we have and continue to make great progress in reducing suicide and increasing awareness and resources, our work is not done and I continue to advise greater continued collaborative conversations. For more on the Calls of Action, visit joshuamjbell.ca/advocacy/2024-mental-health-calls-of-action.

If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, you are not alone. There are resources and supports available. Reach out and make that connection with a family member, friend, or professional. A list of national crisis lines and supports can be accessed by visiting joshuamjbell.ca/help. 

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Related: International Association for Suicide Prevention - WSPD 2024

Related: 2024 Mental Health Calls of Action