Anti-suicide activists march to bridge
A Saskatoon entrepreneur’s suicide prevention campaign took its next step on Saturday despite encountering some roadblocks from the city.
Messages of Hope is a suicide awareness and prevention project spearheaded by Amanda Sanderson, the founder of SHB Apparel.
The original plan for Saturday afternoon was to place laminated posters carrying positive messages along the Broadway Bridge, which Sanderson identified as a major area for suicide attempts in the city.
But Sanderson said a staff member with the City of Saskatoon told her that according to city bylaws, nothing permanent could be attached to the bridge, including her signs.
“It’s sad,” Sanderson said. “Even just a simple message for somebody who’s in distress and needs that support ... they would think twice about it.”
It’s not a new problem for a campaign like this.
Earlier this year, another activist, Katie Salmers, also wanted to put up signs along the major bridges in Saskatoon to let people struggling with suicidal thoughts know that there was another option, along with a phone number for a suicide support line.
Despite being unable to attach any of their signs to the Broadway Bridge, Sanderson and a small group of friends and family took their signs and walked together from the Vimy Memorial and along the bridge before having a moment of silence for lost loved ones.
Sanderson said she has personal, family-driven motivation to continue pushing Messages of Hope.
Her brother-in-law took his own life, and her daughter Caitlyn Checkosis said that she had struggled with suicidal thoughts for a few years.
“She was a huge part in helping me along my journey of healing,” 18-year-old Checkosis said. “Some people don’t reach out, and it’s harder to reach out now ... I think that even if a little message can help someone, we should continue to do it.”
Sanderson said that her efforts were not done with the walk on Saturday, and added that she would continue to speak with the City of Saskatoon to see if anything could be done to get Messages of Hope signs on the Broadway Bridge.
“I’m going to keep trying, but if I have to go a different direction then I will go a different direction,” Sanderson said.