Category: Updates

Our Bereavement Coordinator, Jessica’s, work has included going out into communities that have experienced a suicide loss. Supporting a community through the aftermath of such a loss is a multi-step process that, when done effectively, can make a big difference to those impacted. 

Jessica highlights the importance of bringing together a community as soon as possible after a loss has occurred. “The aim of doing this to bring hope to a place where there was once hopelessness.” It is important to have structure to the first gathering, and have a clear goal and direction. Thinking of it like planting a seed of hope, Jessica considers what tools she can provide to the community, and how they will work with them after she has left.

Suicide loss is unique because it is sudden, aggressive, and violent. These factors cannot be changed. The social stigma that comes with the loss, though, is something that can be changed, and bringing the topic out into the open can help to extinguish the shame that may be felt by those close to a suicide loss.

The question many people ask is “Why?”

Because there is never a good enough answer to this question, Jessica does not dwell on it, focusing instead on the question of how to promote life and move forward. Her role is to bring the community together, build connection, and provide educational support about suicide loss. These things alone can be life supporting. It is also about fostering an understanding that we all grieve the same loss, but we all grieve differently. Life-affirming activities, respecting the needs of others, and staying connected with each other are some steps a community can take towards healing.

Jessica also emphasizes the value of moving beyond the grief of the suicide death, to celebrating and remembering the life of the person. As Jessica says, “One event does not define a life”, and focusing on who the person was beyond their suicide can be healing. 

Finally, it’s about normalizing pain in the path of life. We all experience pain – and what should we do with it? Building capacity to come together and heal from a suicide loss certainly seems like a positive step.

 

Learn more about our postvention work in our interview with Jessica Wolf.

How can we support someone who is grieving the loss of a friend or a family member to suicide? In the immediacy of a suicide loss, providing the right support is important, but can be challenging. Postvention – the work that is done to help family and friends cope with a suicide loss – can make a difference on how the suicide impacts whole communities, including those closest to the loss. 

Over the past year, we have worked to offer postvention support in a number of communities. Jessica Wolf Ortiz has been our Bereavement Coordinator for three years, and has built the program from scratch. Jessica has seen first hand the positive impact this work has had on those involved.

What is postvention, and why is it an important part of the Crisis Centre’s programming? 

Suicide needs to be thought as a process not just an event. In this process we try to protect communities from thoughts of suicide coming up when life becomes challenging. This work is called prevention. 

A crisis line such as ours offers support to people when thoughts of suicide do come up and can or may threaten their lives. This is what we call suicide intervention. 

Lastly, when suicide has sadly happened, postvention is what is needed to support those impacted by its ripple effects. Many, many people are impacted by each suicide; it is difficult to define how many as each experience is unique, but it is always an important number. Having a postvention/bereavement program at the Crisis Centre is important as it acknowledges that everyone who is touched by suicide needs to be supported.

 

How have you approached building out the offerings in your postvention work with the Crisis Centre? How do you believe your work has impacted the communities you have worked with? 

We have built this program on two important pillars: connection and learning. The bereavement program as part of CLE (Community Learning and Engagement) acknowledges that we need to build community, create networks, and offer resources and learning experiences to those impacted by suicide. People who are impacted by suicide have a difficult time finding resources that are specific to their needs (suicide loss is quite particular). People now know of our program and our capacity to offer them support or connect them to the right resources depending on their needs. I do think we have built a community of resonance, sameness and belonging for them, a safe space to land after tragedy has happened. 

 

Do you think there is more that can be done in schools, workplaces and communities to support those affected by suicide loss? What supportive measures can be put in place? 

There is always more to be done as suicide still happens. Hopefully we can create a community postvention model that can be tailored to each community’s needs. The earlier we intervene in a community that has been impacted by suicide, the better we can help them support each other and be self-sustainable. We need more people and professionals trained and educated around suicide loss so we can grow our resources.

 

What role does stigma play in suicide bereavement? How can we address stigma and promote understanding and empathy within the community? 

A huge role! Suicide is still quite misunderstood and stigmatized. People impacted by suicide frequently feel isolated and blamed or judged. This stands in the way of them reaching the right resources and support and adds another layer to the already painful and complex loss. 

An important part of our role in suicide postvention involves destigmatizing suicide to ease the burden they experience. Suicide can happen to anyone… I have seen it in the most loving families and have met the people who have died by suicide in the eyes of their loved ones. No difference between you and I. Reason why we have talked often in our bereavement program about the need to humanize suicide. 

 

What else would you like us to know about postvention? 

That yes, working in postvention does involve working with pain, death and trauma, but we can plant hope where there was hopelessness. Humans have an amazing capacity to touch darkness and appreciate light so much more after. Once a suicide has occurred, there is so much that needs and can be offered to those who stay.

 

Read more about our work supporting communities after a suicide loss

Learn more about the suicide grief support programs that are currently available at the Crisis Centre

4th June, 2024

PDF: Crisis Centre of BC Welcomes National Suicide Prevention Action Plan

The Crisis Centre of BC applauds the announcement of the country’s first National Suicide Prevention Action Plan. This plan is a critical step forward in strengthening Canada’s response to suicide and improving crisis care.

“Suicide prevention is one part mental health services and three parts effective means prevention, a robust social safety net, and access to education and financial stability,” says Stacy Ashton, Executive Director of the Crisis Centre of BC. “This plan recognizes the importance of a comprehensive approach that includes improved data collection, better access to mental health supports and services, and investment in the social determinants of health.”

The Action Plan comes six months after the launch of Canada’s national 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline, and follows additional mental health investments announced in Budget 2024, including the Youth Mental Health Fund.

The Crisis Centre of BC looks forward to working with the government and other stakeholders in implementing this plan and ensuring these vital resources are effectively utilized.

About the Crisis Centre of BC

The Crisis Centre of BC is a leading provider of crisis intervention and suicide prevention services in British Columbia. The Centre operates 24/7 crisis lines offering barrier-free, non-judgemental, confidential support and follow-up, as well as education and training programs that promote mental wellness and equip schools, organizations and communities to assist people at risk of suicide.

310-6789 (no area code needed)
BC Mental Health Support Line

1-800-SUICIDE / 1-800-784-2433
BC Suicide Prevention and Intervention Line

9-8-8
National Suicide Crisis Helpline / Ligne d’aide en cas de crise de suicide

Media Requests

Jeffrey Preiss
Director, Development & Communications
jpreiss@crisiscentre.bc.ca

Stacy Ashton
Executive Director, Crisis Centre of BC
Chair, BC Crisis Line Network
sashton@crisiscentre.bc.ca

Our Community Learning and Engagement programs foster resilience and hope, and build capacity in individuals, organizations and communities. Partnering with post-secondary institutions is a growing part of what we do, and represents a powerful opportunity to intervene and make a real difference in the lives of students, faculty and their networks. 

Students in post-secondary institutions can face myriad challenges: the pressure of deadlines, social dynamics, financial issues – further exacerbated by being in a new and unfamiliar environment away from home. Challenges can be amplified for international students and newcomers who may be isolated and missing home.

In early 2022, we connected with University Canada West, which was facing low utilization of support services, despite a growing international student population and increasing staff workload.

Before our intervention:

• Staff turnover was high (80%). Staff felt overwhelmed and unequipped to manage student mental health concerns, including suicide ideation and crisis situations.
• Staff lacked confidence in discussing challenges with students and creating safety plans.

Partnering with UCW, our Community Learning and Engagement team set out to develop a comprehensive training program, focused on building staff and students’ resiliency and increasing their capacity to support each other. 

The partnership initially aimed to address the issue that staff were acting as “paraprofessionals”, providing mental health support but without the training they needed to do so effectively. Staff retention was low as they struggled to do the work they had been hired to do while also supporting students who were experiencing increasing stress and mental health crises. 

We focused on building psychological safety as a first principle in our approach. As the partnership moved into its second year, we tailored its content to address recognizing early signs of burnout and taking preventive steps to stop it from occurring. 

We have since developed service pillars to indicate various steps that students and staff are encouraged to take on their journey to become more proficient in taking care of their psychological health. We have fostered stronger support networks, created more psychological safety for students and staff, and strengthened their skill sets for crisis and suicide prevention work, allowing them to offer better support to each other.

Moving towards these early interventions and preventative approaches, we have seen staff retention increase from 20% to 80%. Staff feel better equipped to respond to their students’ needs and support them in creating safety plans and managing their mental health.

This partnership is a success story that continues to develop, based on the data and feedback we collect and the needs of those working at UCW. It is not difficult to imagine that these positive results went beyond those who took the training, extending to the external community of those who interact with the staff and students of UCW. By training students and staff to recognize the signs of burnout and mental health crises in themselves and others, we are creating an environment where everyone can feel more supported.

Posted April 24th, 2024

By: Oliver Lum

Grief takes all different forms, and the grief journey is just as unique. Within that journey, there is always a community of people who can offer compassion and support.

Losing someone to suicide is complex, challenging, and individual. With the complexity of grief, support is different for each person. People worldwide gather to walk and watch the sunrise in the annual Darkness into Light walk each year.

Darkness into Light brings together people to honour those we have lost to suicide and show support for anyone struggling right now.

Corry Chaplin, a former staff member of the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC and participant in the Darkness into Light walk, has seen firsthand how valuable these walks can be and how the symbolism they represent can be therapeutic.

“Walking in nature is important for me because grief is this wild, unpredictable journey. And it’s such an intense journey, especially suicide loss, that the only container that can hold it for me is nature. It’s almost like walking with our grief,” said Chaplin.

Loss is often accompanied by fear, and it takes time to move through the grief process. While attending a community event like this may initially feel scary, Chaplin invites others not to let fear stop them.

“I would say to honour the fear because any event or situation related to suicide loss can be challenging. Honour that and explore how it might feel to try it anyway. Those attending will find it a very safe space where you can be yourself. There’s a comfort in this type of community because we’re up against a lot in a society that can’t handle our grief,” said Chaplin.

Support is essential when experiencing grief, yet it is up to the griever to determine what will be most helpful for them. These walks are unique in that they provide an opportunity to connect with the nourishing aspects of nature while being in a community of shared experiences and collective support.

Chaplin is trained as a mindfulness teacher and grief educator and believes that those who attempt to support suicide loss survivors are well-intentioned but often fall short.

“There are a lot of old, outdated grief models, and research has shown that they’re not helpful. People want to support others in grief but often don’t know what to do or say unless they’ve been in a similar situation. Our society needs more education, more suicide loss support, and less stigma. The work of the walk is contributing to all of that,” she said.

Join the community and the Crisis Centre at the walk on May 11th,2024, at the Burnaby Rugby Club starting at 4:15 AM.

More details can be found on their website.

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If you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, reach out:

9-8-8
National Suicide Crisis Helpline / Ligne d’aide en cas de crise de suicide

310-6789 (no area code needed)
BC Mental Health Support Line

1-800-SUICIDE / 1-800-784-2433
BC Suicide Prevention and Intervention Line

Posted November 30th, 2023

Suicide affects people of all ages and backgrounds. An average of 4,500 people across Canada die by suicide each year – approximately 12 people per day.

9-8-8 is a new three-digit, national mental health crisis and suicide prevention helpline that provides urgent, live support by phone and text to people in every province and territory across the country.

The Crisis Centre of BC and 40+ other local crisis centres across Canada are partners in answering 9-8-8. The new service is available in English and French, 24/7, every day of the year.

Further information about 9-8-8 can be found online. 

Support for British Columbians

9-8-8
National Suicide Crisis Helpline / Ligne d’aide en cas de crise de suicide

310-6789 (no area code needed)
BC Mental Health Support Line

1-800-SUICIDE / 1-800-784-2433
BC Suicide Prevention and Intervention Line

About the Crisis Centre of BC

The Crisis Centre of BC is dedicated to providing help and hope to individuals, organizations, and communities.

Spanning the spectrum of crisis support, suicide prevention, and postvention, we engage staff and volunteers in various services and programs that educate, train, and support the strength and capacity of individuals and communities.

We offer:

• Immediate access to barrier-free, non-judgemental, confidential support and follow-up through 24/7 phone lines and online services.
• Education and training programs that promote mental wellness and equip schools, organizations and communities to assist people at risk of suicide.

Further information about the Crisis Centre of BC can be found online. 

Media Requests

Jeffrey Preiss
Director, Development & Communications
jpreiss@crisiscentre.bc.ca

Stacy Ashton
Executive Director, Crisis Centre of BC
Chair, BC Crisis Line Network
sashton@crisiscentre.bc.ca

Posted November 1st, 2023 by Lina Moskaleva and Stephanie Quon

Going through grief takes a village. Unfortunately, essential community support isn’t always available to those grieving someone lost to suicide. The Crisis Centre of BC continues its work in building community for suicide loss survivors during this year’s International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on Saturday, November 18th. The Centre, in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will be hosting an online event in which survivors of suicide loss come together to find connection, understanding, and hope through their shared experiences.

“When people are impacted by suicide, one of the main responses is isolation. This is because there is a component of stigma to suicide, and therefore, people often do not feel understood,” says Jessica Wolf, Bereavement Coordinator at the Crisis Centre. “Giving people an opportunity to meet with others with the same life experience offers a sense of belonging and sameness and a chance to build a community of people impacted by suicide loss.”

The event will consist of two parts: an educational piece and a space to share. The “Coming Back to Ourselves” presentation will explore orienting ourselves after loss and methods for finding gentleness for our communities and ourselves. The event will also give space for facilitated circles where participants can connect with others who have similar life experiences.

A goal of this event is to build community and social support for people who have experienced suicide loss. Community is important because it provides the feeling of not being alone and helps to normalize difficult feelings. At the event, participants are encouraged to talk openly and share with others what their grief is about, what has been helpful, and what has been challenging. 

“We recognize that there can be hesitation with attending this type of event, as people may be raw in their grief and suicide loss can be traumatic,” says Wolf Ortiz. “We make sure we create a safe space and follow guidelines to ensure people feel safe, connected, and welcome as they are.” One of the ways the facilitators ensure this is by making participation voluntary; participants are invited to share as much or as little as they want.

 

This will be the third year that the Crisis Centre is hosting this event, and the event has received positive feedback in the past.

“Every event we host, we ask people what their takeaways are and invite people to share,” reflects Wolf Ortiz. “It’s really beautiful to see our chat fill up with comments mentioning things like community, compassion, and belonging.”

Join a compassionate community of individuals to find healing in community on November 18th, 2023 for International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. Registration is available here.

 

Please email bereavement@crisiscentre.bc.ca if you have any questions about the event.

Posted October 31st, 2023 by Lina Moskaleva and Taja de Silva

Who we are and where we come from affects our understanding of suicide. This means that effective suicide prevention efforts cannot be one-size-fits-all. To combat the ongoing epidemic of suicide in Indigenous communities across Canada, we must have the knowledge and skills to provide culturally appropriate support, especially those of us who work in helping professions.

The Crisis Center of BC has recently partnered with N’alag̱a Consulting to offer a three-hour online workshop called “ɫokʷimas – You are Strong: Indigenous Suicide Prevention“. This workshop provides an understanding of suicide through an Indigenous social justice lens, and leaves participants with suicide prevention and life promotion tools to help address the epidemic of suicidality in Indigenous communities. Participants will acquire the knowledge to:

1. provide enhanced support for Indigenous people who are navigating the spirit of suicide;
2. utilize cultural practices for addressing trauma among those living with the spirit of suicide;
3. explore the power of healing through land, culture, breath, and our physical bodies to promote wellness and self-regulation;
4. build a community of folks who are not only passionate but also willing to engage in discussions about resisting the spirit of suicide.

Workshop participants will not only learn how to talk to someone who might be having thoughts of suicide, but how to create a space where people can be authentic about their experience. This approach comes from N’alag̱a Consulting’s broader suicide prevention program, which was conceptualized as a way to work with Indigenous people and youth who are living with the spirit of suicide in their own communities. Our partnership with N’alag̱a Consulting brings ɫokʷimas to a non-Indigenous audience for the first time. 

All of the spots for the workshop were already full almost a month in advance; “The need is there,” says Lu Ripley, Director of the Centre’s Community Learning & Engagement, whose partnership with Avis O’Brien of N’alag̱a Consulting brought the workshop to fruition. 

N’alag̱a / Kaaw Kuuna – Avis O’Brien is a multi-talented Haida/Kwakwa̱ka’wakw weaver, teacher, singer, dancer, and land-based cultural empowerment facilitator through N’alag̱a Consulting. 

“We often look at colonization as something that happened 200 years ago and now it’s over, but it’s very much alive and present,” says O’Brien. “When someone feels like ending their life and they’re carrying the burdens of ongoing colonization – that’s a really normal human response to what our people are faced with.” This means that suicide prevention also needs to be systemic if it is to effectively address the trauma caused by the systems that are founded on colonial principles.

O’Brien sees this work as vital to the larger project of preventing suicide and promoting life in Indigenous communities. “Suicide prevention is so broad,” says O’Brien pointing out that the currently predominant Western clinical approach to mental health services needs to be incorporated with other approaches and treated as a piece of a larger prevention strategy. O’Brien hopes that the workshop will “plant the seed of the importance of bringing in land-based and culturally rooted ways of resisting the spirit of suicide and healing” emphasizing that this is “what is really going to heal our people.” 

Ripley and O’Brien first connected through their work with the First Nations Health Authority in 2021 and the two kept in touch over the years. When asked about what led O’Brien to partner with the Centre, O’Brien pointed to her relationship with Ripley and their shared recognition of the potential value an Indigenous-led training on suicide could bring to our service.

 

“The role of culture is huge for all of us” says Ripley. Her hope for this training is that it creates more opportunities to “learn from each other and value each other’s knowledge”, so that suicide prevention efforts can evolve to reflect land-based and culturally appropriate approaches to healing.

Folks interested in taking the training in the future are encouraged to fill out our expression of interest form. In the meantime, visit N’alag̱a Consulting’s website to learn more about ɫokʷimas and the work of using culturally rooted tools for suicide prevention.

Posted August 15th, 2023 

Our core mission is to provide help and hope to individuals facing mental health crisis, including those struggling with thoughts of suicide. 

We acknowledge the complexity of mental health issues and the diverse perspectives surrounding Medical Assistance In Dying (MAiD) as an option for individuals in Canada. The Centre has not taken a position on the morality or ethical implications of MAiD; instead, we aim to support individuals with empathy, compassion, and understanding, meeting them where they are in their mental health and day-to-day struggles.

Eligibility for people to choose MAiD whose sole medical condition is mental illness is scheduled to begin on March 17, 2024, per the federal government’s timeline. The change to include mental illness as a sole criterion for accessing MAiD has brought attention to the intersections of mental health, suicide, self-determination, quality and access to mental health care, disability, poverty, and the meaning of life and suffering. None of these intersections are simple to navigate.

The kinds of calls we get related to MAiD tend to fall into four categories:

• Callers considering applying to MAiD for a range of reasons related to physical or mental suffering: These individuals are not considering dying by suicide tonight. We hold a non-judgmental space for these callers to talk.
• Callers concerned about a loved one considering MAiD or bereaved by the loss of a loved one through MAiD: We hold a non-judgemental place for these callers to talk.
• Callers who have permission for MAiD and find knowing that option is there increases their sense of control in their lives and reduces their suffering enough to want to continue living: These callers often worry that if the MAiD option is taken away from them, their situation will be worse. We hold a non-judgemental place for these callers to talk.
• Callers expressing strong opinions one way/another about the issue itself from a political, religious, moral or personal perspective: We hold space for these callers to share their thoughts and opinions with empathy and non-judgment. 
• Callers who are in immediate suicidal crisis but are also considering MAiD: No matter what, MAiD will not happen tonight, but suicide might. We hold a non-judgemental place for these callers to talk. In addition, we work to help these callers stay safe from suicide.

Just as we believe talking about suicide does not cause suicide, we believe talking about MAiD does not cause someone to decide to pursue MAiD. Instead, talking through why we decide to live and why we might want to die is exactly what crisis centres are prepared to offer those who reach out to us.

We encourage dialogue and mutual understanding. We recognize that the topic of MAiD is deeply personal and can evoke strong emotions. We aim to create a supportive environment through active listening and open conversation where individuals can express their thoughts and experiences without judgment.

In our Crisis Responder training, we have added MAiD-related training modules and engage in deep conversation to ensure crisis line responders are equipped to meet people where they are within the scope of service provision. We do not include a caller’s questions, interest, or desire to talk about MAiD as a part of any assessment of suicide risk. MAiD and suicide are not the same thing; we are committed to keeping people safe from dying by suicide, while acknowledging their ambivalence towards living and dying.

In our Community Learning and Engagement programs, we have experienced participants actively discussing MAiD related to suicide, especially in our Applied Suicide and Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) program. These conversations reflect the complexities individuals face navigating mental health and suicide and how they intersect with end-of-life decisions. We value the openness of these discussions and actively listen to the concerns and perspectives shared by our community members.

Our commitment to suicide prevention remains steadfast. We will continue to adapt and respond to the evolving needs of our community, understanding that every person’s journey is unique. We need to remain informed, compassionate, and sensitive to the complexities surrounding mental health, suicide, and end-of-life decisions.

As we move forward, we encourage everyone to respect one another’s perspectives and recognize that discussions surrounding MAiD can be challenging for many. We aim to foster a safe and supportive community where individuals can find hope and strength in times of struggle. Together, we can create a space where open dialogue is embraced and those who need support are met with compassion and understanding.

At the Centre, we remain dedicated to supporting our community in the best way possible and committed to providing help, hope, and healing to those in need. 

Resources

BC Ministry of Health
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/end-of-life-care/medical-assistance-in-dying

Vancouver Coastal Health
https://www.vch.ca/en/service/medical-assistance-dying

Government of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/medical-assistance-dying/supports-resources.html

Posted August 15th, 2023 by lina Moskaleva and Effie Pow 

A high rate of suicide among Canadian veterans has been a distressing, decades-long reality. The 2019 Veteran Suicide Mortality Study revealed that the risk of suicide for veterans has remained consistently higher than that of the general public over a 39-year period, with the risk being 1.4 times higher for male and 1.9 times higher for female veterans.

With the support of Veterans Affairs Canada, the Crisis Centre of BC is contributing to the network of care available to veterans. The $60,000 grant from the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund will go towards the Crisis Care Continuum for Veterans project that will deliver suicide awareness and prevention training for veterans and those who support them in their communities. The Crisis Centre is one of five BC projects that will be funded.

Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, made the funding announcement on August 10, 2023 at the Legion Veterans Village in Surrey with Surrey-Centre MP Randeep Sarai.

“Caring for our mental health is crucial, and I am pleased to support the impactful projects these devoted groups are undertaking here in British Columbia through the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund,” said Taylor in the Veterans Affairs Canada news release. “Veterans and first responders have unique needs and that means we need to work together in providing care, treating PTSD, mental health problems and other medical needs.”

The Crisis Centre will collaborate with the Royal Canadian Legion/BC Yukon Command and other community partners to ensure staff and volunteers are trained, including the 125 veteran Branch Service Offers who assist veterans at Legion branches. Training peers increases skills and provides intergenerational learning to serve diverse veteran populations better. Convening community members and partners through training will help to improve the continuum of mental health crisis care for veterans.

“We know that veterans are at risk and we are pleased to provide a variety of opportunities for those supporting veterans to gain additional skills and tools to care for the community,” said Lu Ripley, Director of Community Learning and Engagement.

The training will include:  

• Skillfully Responding to Distress, online training in de-escalation; 
• Customized online suicide response training for those who are unable to attend in person
• safeTALK, a half-day training in being suicide alert
• Advanced skills offered in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), a two-day certified evidenced-based training, is planned for those directly supporting veterans in their roles. 

As well, to build wellness and resilience, community members and service providers will have access to the Crisis Centre’s on-demand wellness modules.  

Thank you to Veterans Affairs Canada for the project grant to support suicide awareness and prevention training for veterans and their families. 

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Visit our website to learn more and register for our training programs and workshops.

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The Crisis Centre of BC is committed to supporting people during times of crisis. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out:

• Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (no area code required)
• Anywhere in BC 1800SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433