An online event has been planned locally to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.
Sarnia-Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee [SLSPC] spokesperson Liz Page said individuals in the community will share their stories virtually Thursday night.
"Kim Shaw from A Voice for Steph, [and representatives from] Talk for Tamara, the Mike Harvey Foundation and Spoken Hope, which is our youth advisory council at St. Clair Child and Youth," said Page. "So, we're going to have some good discussion around how people can support their efforts and be aware of what's happening in our community."
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 11 people die by suicide each day in Canada and there are about 4,000 deaths by suicide each year.
The agency also reports that 1/3 of deaths by suicide are among people between the ages of 45 and 59. It's the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15 and 34 and the suicide rates are three times higher among men compared to women.
Page said local statistics are hard to pinpoint.
"We do know that locally we have more resources in place than we've had previously. I know there's been a lot of concern around how COVID has impacted people and there's people saying that there's been a rise in suicides, however the national and provincial numbers have actually indicated that there hasn't been."
Page said taking a moment to reach out to someone, whether it's a close family member, friend or stranger, can change the course of their life.
"We've definitely seen a real increase in people reaching out and people needing to talk to someone, even if it's anonymous, just needing to be heard. Sometimes they're not looking for people to solve their problems, they're just looking to be heard and validated and feel that somebody is listening and gets how they're feeling, which is key."
If you are concerned for yourself or others, you can call Sarnia-Lambton's Distress Line at 519-336-3000 or 1-888-DISTRES for help.
A list of other resources with contact information can be found here.
The SLSPC is also encouraging residents to tie a yellow ribbon or post a sign to help remind those impacted by suicide that they're not alone.
Anyone wishing to attend the online event, scheduled for 7 p.m., is asked to register at www.sarnialambtonsuicideprevention.com.
