They call themselves the ‘Survivors of Suicide'. They are the people left behind when a loved one takes their own life.
Saturday morning, over 200 ‘Survivors of Suicide' gathered at the Calgary Zoo to talk about a subject they say far too few people are willing to discuss.
Braving the cold they walked in memory of friends and family lost to suicide.
Saturday marks Survivors of Suicide day an event which has been going on for seven years and with increased participation each year.
One out of every eight deaths in Alberta is the result of suicide.
Dan Delaloye of the Canadian Mental Health Association says suicide has a far reaching affect.
"You are probably talking a couple of dozen to a couple of hundred people for ever person that is a suicide victim," says Delaloye. "We are talking thousands of people that are impacted in some way by suicide."
Gatherings like Saturday's walk are part of a long healing process for suicide survivors, one that never really ends.
The Canadian Mental Health Association provided the following facts about suicide.
Alberta
- There were 487 suicides in Alberta in 2009, that's up from 473 in 2007.
- Suicides accounted for 12.5% of deaths in Alberta in 2009.
- 103 Calgarians died by suicide in 2009. This is down from the 117 Calgarians that died by suicide in 2008.
- 129 Edmontonians died by suicide in 2009.
- Suicide is second only to accidents as a cause of death for people aged 15 to 34.
- Alberta has the 2nd highest rate of suicide of all the provinces in Canada (Quebec is 1st).
General facts about suicide:
- Many people contemplating suicide give clues about their feelings; however, recognizing the warning signs of suicide can be difficult.
- Suicide occurs in all cultures, religions, and age groups. Anyone, regardless of education or income level can be at risk.
- For every death, there are about 100 attempts.
- The months of May and June have the highest number of suicides. (Not Christmas as is commonly believed.)
Stats provided by the World Health Organization
- The World Health Organization estimates one million people die from suicide every year - a global mortality rate of 16 per 100,000. One death every 40 seconds.
- In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide.
- Mental disorders (particularly depression and substance abuse) are associated with more than 90% of all cases of suicide. However, suicide results from many complex sociocultural factors and is more likely to occur during periods of socioeconomic, family and individual crisis (e.g. loss of a loved one, employment, honour).
Stats provided by the Center for Disease Control
- Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than are females. However, females are more likely to attempt suicide than are males.
Stats provided by Stats Canada
- In 2006 there were 3,512 deaths by suicide in Canada. This number continues to increase: there were 3,611 deaths by suicide in 2007 and 3,705 in 2008.
- 1 in 6 Canadians seriously contemplate suicide during times of stress.
