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15 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,S eptem ber 8,2022 w aterloochronicle.ca 2022 World Suicide Prevention Day: "Creating Hope Through Action." Elisa Brewer-Singh, Executive Director, Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council Every year on September 10th the international community joins together for World Suicide Prevention Day with the goal of bringing communities together, and honouring people with a lived experience who have been touched by suicide: people who have died by suicide, people who live with suicidal thoughts and behaviours, people who are bereaved by suicide, and people who stand in support. If we pause to listen, there are many stories from individuals who have, for different reasons, struggled with wanting the intense emotional and psychological pain of living to end, as well as stories of families and friends who love them. Each one of these individuals are part of our community which is why awareness of warning signs that someone is struggling, or invitations for help as we like to call them, as well as awareness of available services is important. Our community has a key role to play in raising awareness and supporting people who are struggling; in the important work of hope, help and healing. This important and collective role is reflected in the theme chosen for World Suicide Prevention Day 2022: 'Creating Hope Through Action.' As members of the community, we all have a role to play: we can watch for those who may be struggling, check in with them, encourage them to tell their story in their own way and at their own pace, and seek supports. Offering the opportunity to be present and listen in a non-judgmental way can make all the difference. Our actions, whether big or small, may help provide hope to those who are struggling. Resources are available. There is hope. There are various well-established resources that are designed to equip people to communicate effectively with those who might be vulnerable to suicide such as LivingWorks' SafeTALK, and ASIST. Most recently LivingWorks has developed an online training course that can be taken from the comfort of your own home called START. These workshops are premised on the idea that many people know what to do if they encounter someone who has had a physical health emergency, like a heart attack, but feel out of their depth if they are faced with someone experiencing a mental or emotional crisis. These workshops teach a range of skills, including how to recognize invitations for help when someone is struggling. Visit www. wrspc.ca for more information. Additionally, Waterloo Region and Wellington County has the Here 24/7 crisis resource line at 1-844-437- 3247 and the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council's website has an entire section dedicated to Maintaining Mental Wellness during COVID-19 that includes regional, provincial and national resources at https://wrspc. ca/maintaining-mental-wellness- during-covid-19/. omen frcan be takt ourse thacaining tr home calledwn our oort of yomfthe c emisede prorkshops arwhese T .TTARS wy people knot manon the idea tha er someoneountency do if theo t twha sical healthywho has had a ph eel but fttack,e a heart a lik,ygencemer edace fy ardepth if theof their out xperiencing a mentalewith someone orkshopshese wT or emotional crisis. w including hoof skills,ange each a rt whenor help tions fvitae inognizeco rt .wwwisit V truggling.someone is s tion.ormae infor mor fca wrspc. Messages of hope, help & healing from the community written on foam butterflies as part of World Suicide Prevention Day or truggling,t someone is ssigns tha ailablevof as enesarwell as aw as them, ommunityc Our important.is es servic whos and supporting people enesarwa orkwtruggling; in the important e sar olee rollectivchis important and T orfchosenthemetheinedecteflris ' Asough Action.hrting Hope Tea'Cr orch ftawcan e wy: o plaole te a rvha ell theiro tage them tourenc with them, Hope, help, healing