Signals of Suicide A school-based suicide prevention program presented by a trained facilitator in Grade 9 classrooms throughout the province. Combining interactive learning techniques, open discussions and a short video, the one-hour session explores the topic of suicide with youth, and teaches them ways to seek help for themselves and their peers when they’re in distress. This program is funded by the PEI Department of Health and CMHA’s annual 'Golf for Life' Tournament.

September 9, 2009 New PEI Helping Tree Delivered Island-wide for World Suicide Prevention Day Charlottetown---The Canadian Mental Health Association/PEI Division is launching its new 2009 PEI Helping Tree Island-wide to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) on September 10th. The PEI Helping Tree is a one-page, flow chart designed to inform Islanders of the many helping resources available on PEI. Individuals who are experiencing personal difficulties can use the Helping Tree to learn of community programs or services that may provide support or opportunities to find solutions to their difficulties before problems become more severe. Studies have shown that reaching out for help is an important step in coping with stress, distress and in preventing suicide. CMHA, along with its partners, hope to make that life-saving step a little easier by providing every Island household with a bilingual version of the newly revised PEI Helping Tree. Jean Stillway, an Addictions Counsellor at Lennox Island Health Centre, is a member of CMHA’s Suicide Prevention Committee. She says this year’s theme for WSPD, “Suicide Prevention in Different Cultures”, is a timely one, considering a new added feature to this year’s Helping Tree. She goes on to say, “By partnering with the PEI French Language Health Services Network (PEIFLHSN), we were able to develop a bilingual, French/English, resource and get it into the hands of every Islander.” Stillway adds, “There are times in everyone’s life when we need to reach out to others for help - sometimes it’s just a matter of knowing how to reach them. The PEI Helping Tree will provide that information to individuals and families who are struggling and perhaps don’t know where to turn.” Bernice Arsenault, Project Manager of the PEIFLHSN, agrees, saying, “We are pleased to partner with the CMHA in the circulation of this helpful bilingual tool promoting the Island’s helping resources.  This partnership allows us to reach all of PEI’s Island francophone population. Islanders will find a copy of the new PEI Helping Tree in their mailbox in the coming days. They are encouraged to keep it on hand, perhaps inside their phonebook, for future reference. The newest edition of the PEI Helping Tree is blue in color and considering the many changes and additions to the revised Helping Tree, CMHA hopes this will prompt current users to replace outdated copies.  A larger, poster-sized version of the PEI Helping Tree is also available, and can be displayed in high traffic areas, such as waiting rooms, staff areas and public foyers. World Suicide Prevention Day is an annual event co-sponsored by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization. On that day, communities around the world promote initiatives that actively engage community members and enhance their understanding of suicide prevention efforts. CMHA will be distributing copies of the PEI Helping Tree to homes, government offices and community organizations throughout the province in the coming weeks. Copies will also be available at CMHA offices in Charlottetown, Summerside and Alberton and may be downloaded from our website (see link above). To obtain additional copies or to find out more about suicide prevention efforts, contact CMHA’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator at 628-3669.