Suicide Prevention: Responding to the Warning Signs

Every year approximately 3,700 people in Canada commit suicide.¹ For the family and friends they leave behind, these deaths raise many difficult questions: Were there warning signs that went unnoticed? Do resources exist to help someone who is contemplating suicide? Could this death have been prevented?

For many, unfortunately, the current prevention measures are not enough. Most people who end their own lives suffer from a treatable mental disorder but often do not receive the mental health care that they need. The signs of suicide risk may vary based on gender, age and culture, and a screening tool or intervention that is effective for one group may not meet the needs of another.

Canadian health researchers are working to identify the early indicators of suicide risk and determine why at-risk people often fall through the cracks. They are evaluating new and existing approaches to prevention. And they are working with high-risk groups, such as First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth, to develop culturally appropriate interventions.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) supports a wide range of research that is helping improve suicide prevention efforts.

• Bringing Research to the Policy Makers: Dr. Kathryn Bennett and her colleagues are providing research evidence to help guide the development of a national framework for suicide prevention.
• A Prevention Paradox: Dr. Anne Rhodes and her team are studying the complicated relationship between gender and suicide.
• Culturally Based Interventions: The Swampy Cree Suicide Prevention Team is studying the underlying causes of suicide in Aboriginal communities and evaluating prevention programs for Aboriginal youth.