Pandemic feeding into suicide worries across province
The provincial government revealed Pillars for Life: The Saskatchewan Suicide Prevention Plan on Friday, an attempt to address high rates of suicide in the province.
“Suicide prevention and mental health are key priorities for our government and we recognize that more needs to be done,” said Rural and Remote Health Minister Warren Kaeding during the announcement. “The loss of a loved one to suicide is devastating.”
The five-pillar plan is based on a review of approaches in other jurisdictions and international best practices undertaken by the province last fall, according to Kaeding, and focuses on specialized supports, training, awareness, means restrictions and means safety, and research. It outlines action plans for the first year, as well as into the future, including more investments in mental health and addictions, the expansion of mental health first aid training across the province, the launch of a public awareness campaign targeted to youth, particularly Indigenous youth in the north, and more.
When asked if the province was doing anything above and beyond the plan to assist residents in La Loche, a community long vulnerable to suicide and now coping with a COVID-19 outbreak, Kaeding emphasized that they are in daily contact with the community.
“We have a very co-ordinated approach to working with the residents of La Loche,” he said.
But the extra strain on mental health due to COVID-19 isn’t just a concern in the north.
“What I’ve found is that because of the isolation, because of the loneliness ... it’s caused a lot more mental health issues,” said Donna Bowyer, provincial director of education and training for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in an interview Wednesday. “I live in Moose Jaw and we certainly have heard of more suicides than what we normally would have.”
She’s hearing of similar increases in Regina through conversations with funeral service providers. Last week, a Regina man was taken into custody after RPS officers responded to calls of a man who had climbed on top of the safety barrier on the Argyle Street overpass and was threatening to jump.
Bowyer said there’s no way for her to tell whether the apparent increase or incidents like last week’s has a direct correlation to the pandemic, but what she does know is that people are more anxious and stressed since COVID-19 hit the province, complicating existing mental health issues and that feelings of loneliness, stress, anxiety and fear of the unknown can all be contributing factors to thoughts of suicide.
“Some people that are calling are finding it very overwhelming to be able to cope with this, and they sometimes fall back on old coping strategies (like drugs, alcohol and online shopping) that they had before they did the work on their wellness,” said Bowyer.
Mental health calls to Healthline 811, operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority, have also changed due to COVID-19. While calls related to suicide have remained relatively the same compared to this time last year, general calls to mental health clinicians increased 44 per cent from March 1 to April 30, and calls to registered nurses — who take the mental health calls when there’s overflow — have increased by 53 per cent.
“COVID -19 is on everyone’s mind right now. So, even when we get a call for physical symptoms or mental health related concerns, it usually comes up in every conversation,” 811 manager Sangeeta Gupta said.
Callers report feeling anxious and stressed because of all the Covid-19-related news they’re been consuming, said Gupta.
Some crisis services in Saskatoon have also seen an uptick in calls related to the pandemic. Saskatoon Mobile Crisis Centre executive director Rita Field recently estimated 25 to 45 per cent of the organization’s daily calls are “COVID -19 related,” ranging from anxiety attacks to suicidal ideation.
“For people that already have mental health concerns, it might be more escalated and others who have not had mental health concerns are now experiencing mental health concerns because of some of the anxiety and stress that’s caused by COVID-19,” said Gupta.
For those struggling with mental health issues and/or thoughts of self-harm or suicide, both Gupta and Bowyer encourage residents to call 811 or the CMHA’S Wellness Support Response Line at 306-4211871.
The pair also recommended ways to reduce stress and anxiety at home, including scaling back news consumption, especially before bed, going out at non-peak hours of the day to avoid crowds and utilizing your own yard to get fresh air. To help others, don’t forget a small act of kindness can go a long way, said Bowyers.
“Don’t spend too much time in the future,” she said. “Stay in the present.”
Callers report feeling anxious and stressed …