Information Booth at Walmart today in advance of World Suicide Prevention Day

Prince George, BC – 109 pairs of shoes…

That’s one pair for every suicide in Prince George over a 10-year period spanning 2001 to 2010.

The Crisis Prevention, Intervention and Information Centre for Northern BC is hoping to raise awareness about the signals of suicide and the resources available at an information booth in Walmart, in advance of World Suicide Prevention Day on Monday.

Crisis Centre Program Coordinator, Sandra Boulianne, says, "We’re just really hoping that people won’t be afraid to come and talk to us because this is a difficult topic, but we really want to raise awareness because nothing’s really changed in the past 30-years."

By that, Boulianne means, suicide is often a silent tragedy – often those left behind have difficulty acknowledging their loved one passed away by suicide, the victims don’t receive a proper burial, and there’s no mention of the mental health issues they may have struggled with because of the stigma and shame attached.  "And there is no shame – there’s just people struggling with all kinds of things," says Boulianne.  "And that’s why we exist as a confidential, anonymous line."

The suicide rate in Prince George is high compared to similar-sized cities elsewhere and Boulianne says it’s generally higher in the north overall.  At-risk target groups include: males, aboriginals, people struggling with their sexuality, and people who are incarcerated.  "We hear it on our lines, people who call from our isolated communities," says the coordinator.  "They feel helpless, they feel hopeless – and when those two things are high, the risk of suicide is high, as well."

Today, reps from the Crisis Centre, Northern Health, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and Native Friendship Centre will be manning the information booth until 4pm.  Photo shows Boulianne (on right), with Crisis Centre Board of Directors member, Tammy Skomorowski (on left), who is a registered clinical counsellor at the College of New Caledonia.

The Crisis Line is operated 24-hours per day, seven days a week by trained volunteers who are there to offer an empathetic ear to any crisis.  The number in Prince George is 250-563-1214, or 1-888-562-1214 in Northern BC.  

The Youth Line number is 250-564-8336 (TEEN), locally, or 1-888-564-8336 for Northern BC.  There is also an online chat at www.northernyouthonline.ca 

And the province-wide suicide prevention line is 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).