Dozens of people showed up for the 4th annual Walk for Suicide Awareness in Barrie on Saturday.
Organizers say the walk is about courage, hope and education – helping people understand and believe that suicide is a reality.
“They say in Canada, every three minutes someone will take their life,” says Aleta Armstrong with the Canadian Mental Health Association.
It’s a staggering statistic that Cheryl Turner believes…because she’s living with it. Less than a year ago her brother Jamie took his life.
“We miss him dearly, we miss him a lot and the anniversary is coming up – it’s going to be real tough,” says Cheryl.
Jamie Turner was an emergency room nurse with 20 years of experience. He had helped and cared for hundreds of thousands of patients but he couldn’t help himself.
“We thought he was getting better but you never know, you just don’t know,”
Statistics say approximately 15% of Canadians contemplate suicide, almost 4% attempt it.
But the Canadian Mental Health Association says there is hope for the future. Better programs like the “Skills for safer living” – a program that involves professional and peer support.
“That’s a group where people can not only get professional support but support each other,” adds Armstrong.
But the key is to talk about it.
“Talk to somebody – doesn’t matter who – talk to somebody,” says Turner.
