When the SLSPC received news of a loss of funding, which could greatly impact our ability to sustain all of our initiatives, the Sarnia Lambton community responded to show their support.
We are incredibly grateful to Dennis Ensom, the Sarnia Firefighters, Robert E. Dale Ltd Consulting Engineers and Bluewater Power for their donations to enable us to fund our Coordinator position for another year.
The SLSPC believes that collaboration is an important part of the work that we do within the community. We are extremely grateful for the partnerships that we have formed with community foundations.
The Mike Harvey Foundation provides support and resources to those affected by mental health issues. The Mike Harvey Foundation has partnered with the SLSPC to offer safeTALK workshops to those in rural areas and has supported these workshops financially to ensure that all community members are comfortable talking to others about suicide.
TFT Talk For Tamara’s mission is to support education for youth mental health and suicide prevention. TFT Talk For Tamara has supported the SLSPC financially to provide safeTALK workshops at no cost to community members and to ensure that there are enough resources to be given to those who are struggling. Resources such as Help Cards, yellow bracelets and Drive Thru advertising signs display local help line numbers to call in times of crisis.
The Sarnia Community Foundation has provided financial support to the SLSPC to provide a 8 week Suicide Loss Support group for those family members who have been impacted by a suicide loss. The SCF also provided the financial support for the SLSPC in collaboration with Victim Services, to develop a Community Navigator position. This Community Navigator offers support and resources to those impacted following a suicide.
Project Mental Wellness believes that mental health conversations belong in every industry, community and home. Project Mental Wellness has provided the financial support to the SLSPC to provide educational events, and to continue to offer the Suicide Loss Support group.
World Suicide Prevention Day 2023
The Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee acknowledged World Suicide Prevention Day 2023 and its theme Creating Hope Through Action with rich and meaningful conversations with community members and a display of local resources and family activities at Lambton Mall.
WSPD is a day when we can ask community members to be aware of those around them who may be struggling; a day when we send the message that it’s ok to not be ok, to Reach Out, there is hope. Acknowledging WSPD provides an opportunity to create awareness, share a hopeful message and keep the conversation around suicide prevention at the forefront.
Mental Health Awareness Month 2023
On May 30, 2023, the Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee with the support of Project Mental Wellness hosted an online workshop for mental health professionals, MENtal Health: It’s Time to Talk, focusing on men’s mental health.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Whitley, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry at McGill & researcher at Douglas Research Centre. Dr. Whitley shared statistics and strategies to assist men in coping with issues that impact their mental health.
Guest speaker, Doug McCurdy also spoke with honesty and vulnerability as he shared his lived experience.
Thank you!
The Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee endeavors to provide support to the community through the distribution of mental health resources, education on suicide prevention, and collaboration with social service agencies so that members of our community know that they are not alone.
The SLSPC is forever grateful to those who provide our committee with financial support to enable us to meet the needs of the community.
Thank you to Rob Longo, of Coldwell Banker, Southwest Realty; All State; Jesse Ferguson; Ben Rancourt; Debb Pitel; CR Creative Co. Ltd; the graduating class of LCCVI ‘2019; Progressive Auto Sales; HUB International; Ashleen Ysebaert; the Rotary Club of Sarnia Bluewaterland; Jessica McLean; Adelaide Wind Limited Partnership and Manley’s Basics for supporting the work of our committee.
World Suicide Prevention Day 2022
Creating Hope Through Action was the theme for WSPD 2022 and the Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee sends Thanks to all community members who do their part in reaching out to others, to let them know that they are not alone, who raise awareness of mental wellness, and who strive to break the stigma associated with mental illness.
This year the SLSPC invited the community to a viewing of Suicide: The Ripple Effect, a documentary about hope and healing, focusing on the devastating effects of suicide and the positive ripple effects of advocacy, inspiration and hope.
Thank you to Lambton Mall for hosting a photo display with messages of hope, to Olivia Musico for demonstrating how to make self-care pillows, and to Diversity Ed for their First Friday display of hope.
The Side by Side Support Group honoured their loved ones with a waterside vigil.
World Suicide Prevention Day 2021
Every year, on September 1oth, the Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee encourages the community to acknowledge World Suicide Prevention Day with lawn signs, business signs, and by tying yellow ribbons. It is our hope that by raising awareness, those who are struggling will reach out. Let’s keep the conversation about mental wellness going.
It’s ok to not be ok. Give hope a chance.
World Suicide Prevention Day 2020
This year’s theme of Working Together to Prevent Suicide, was acknowledged by the whole Sarnia Lambton Community as individuals and businesses tied yellow ribbons, wore yellow bracelets, displayed lawn signs and spread messages of Hope. Our Suicide Loss Support Group came together to honor and remember their loved ones with a ceremony by the water, where they shared messages of support. As COVID-19 limited our ability to recognize World Suicide Prevention Day, the Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee proudly produced a Message of Hope video involving those who have been impacted by suicide, and those who have made a commitment to end the stigma surrounding suicide. The result is a beautiful and powerful message of courage, hope and support. The SLSPC wishes to Thank everyone who has made an effort to acknowledge WSPD 2020. All efforts help to keep the conversation going.
Reach out, you matter, you are loved, you are not a burden, you are worthy.
World Suicide Prevention Day 2019
On September 10th, the SLSPC in partnership with Artopia and Tiny Islands Photography gave voice to community members who have been profoundly impacted by suicide through a photograph exhibit. Their courage and commitment to raising awareness and decreasing the stigma associated with suicide is a testament to what we can achieve as a community. We would also like to Thank community members and businesses for displaying yellow ribbons and signage in support of World Suicide Prevention Day. Give Hope a Voice.
World Suicide Prevention Day 2018
The Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee proudly partnered with Sarnia Speaks to host a conversation on suicide, a topic that has deeply impacted our community. We would like to thank the families who shared their raw, powerful and emotional stories of how their lives have been impacted by suicide.
World Suicide Prevention Day 2017
The Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee would like to thank Lambton Mall and everyone who came out to help us recognize World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, 2017. The theme of the day was “Take a Minute, Change a Life”.
We were honoured to have Danielle Cooper and Tara Bourque join us to share their personal messages of strength and hope. And Harlin who entertained us with his drumming.
We would also like to extend a huge thanks to those who wore yellow ribbons, who tied yellow ribbons, to businesses who posted information about our event and to anyone who took the time to reach out to someone who may be struggling.
Help, hope and healing are possible.
