YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN BUILDING A SUICIDE SAFER COMMUNITY

ModeratorIan Manion, E.D. of Ontario Centre of Excellencefor Child and Youth Mental Health

Youth PanelPeter Gindl: Youth Engagement, Youth Services BureauMyron Khatheer: Youth Engagement, Youth Services BureauEmily Beaudoin: YouthNetHannah Brunsdon: YouthNet

BUILDING A SUICIDE SAFEROTTAWA FOR YOUTH

COMMUNITY SUICIDEPREVENTION NETWORK

Presenters: Joanne LoweExecutive Director, Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa Raj Bhatla Psychiatrist-in-Chief, The Royal

BUILDING A SUICIDE SAFER OTTAWA FOR YOUTH: THE FIVE PILLARS

Leadership

Action Plan

Gatekeeper Training

Suicide Bereavement

Mental Health Promotion

COMMUNITY SUICIDEPREVENTION NETWORK

• Over 40 organizations committed to developing and implementing solutions that will prevent and respond to suicide, with an initial focus on youth

• Survey completed about what was being done in suicide prevention, intervention, postvention and research

• Focus groups with parents and youth

COMMUNITY SUICIDEPREVENTION NETWORK: INITIAL PRIORITIES

• Practical information about how to get help when in crisis: A Guide

• Parent Navigation• Youth Navigation

In addition:Working in partnership with the mediaDeveloping a community action plan

MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITYSUICIDE PREVENTION NETWORK

Bereaved Families of OttawaCarleton UniversityCentre PsychosocialChamplain LHINChild and Youth Mental Health Project (SSLI)Children’s Aid Society Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

Canadian Mental Health AssociationOttawa BranchCoalition for Suicide PreventionConseil des écoles catholiques ducentre est (CECCE)Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario

MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITYSUICIDE PREVENTION NETWORK

Crossroads Children’s CentreCTV OttawaDistress CentreLa Cité collégialeMental Health Services ofRenfrew CountyMinistry of Community andSocial Services Montfort HospitalOntario Centre of Excellence for Child andYouth Mental Health

Ottawa Catholic School BoardOttawa-Carleton District School BoardOttawa Inuit Children’s CentreOttawa Police ServicesOttawa Public HealthThe Ottawa HospitalThe RoyalUnited WayUniversity of OttawaWabanoYouthNetYouth Services Bureau of Ottawa

Presenter: Cherry Murray Crossroads Children’s Centre

Presenter: Lucille St-PierreConseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est

STUDENT SUPPORT LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE (SSLI)Presenters: Michael HoneAssociate E.D., Crossroads Children’s Centre Jennifer OakePrincipal, St. Pius X High School

SSLI TEAM

• Michael Baine, Lead Consultant• Elza Seregelyi,

Ottawa Network for Education• Jane Fjeld, Youth Services Bureau• Joan Leadbeater-Graham,

Rideauwood• Jessica Ripley,

Ottawa Police Service• Benjamin Leikin,

Ottawa Public Health• Ellen Waxman,

Roberts Smart Centre• Lynne Barber, McHugh• Nicole Loreto, Royal Ottawa

• Dave Murphy, CHEO• Petra Duschner,

Ottawa Public Board• Laurinda Cudmore,

Ottawa Catholic Board• Denise Norris,

Ottawa Public Board• Despina Papadolous,

Centre of Excellence• Jennifer Oake,

St. Pius X Catholic High School• Michael Hone,

Crossroads Children’s Centre

BACKGROUND

• SSLI Project Began in 2007• Michael Baine, Lead Consultant• 3 Ministry Initiative

• Ministry of Education• Ministry of Child and Youth Services• Ministry of Health

• SSLI Coordinated by Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE)

PURPOSE OF SSLI PROJECT

• Build a collaborative partnership across multiple sectors within the Ottawa Community

• Provide In-Service to Educators on Child and Youth Mental Health

• Provide mental health agencies with in-service around how school boards operate and provide service.

OUTCOMES TO DATE

• 3500 Ottawa Educators will have received in-service on child and youth mental health by the end of this academic year.

• This year educators from the public and Catholic board have been trained in suicide prevention.

OUTCOMES TO DATE

• Collaborative Problem Solving training provided to school board personnel including full certification training.

• This approach has enabled partners across sectors to be able to speak the same language when working with children and youth with complex needs.

MOVING FORWARD

• The SSL Initiative has enabled the community to move forward by:

• De-stigmatizing mental health. • Increasing collaboration between school boards and

mental health organizations who serve the most complex needs children/youth and their caregivers.

• Increasing dialogue between front line educators, administration and across sectors.

OTTAWA SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION

Presenter: Renée OuimetOttawa Suicide Prevention Coalition and Director of Capacity Building and Education, CMHA (Ottawa branch)

OTTAWA SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION

• 13 members representing organizations involved with suicide prevention, individuals with lived experience of suicidal behaviour and family members

• Housed and supported by CMHA ,Ottawa Branch and funded by the City of Ottawa Community Renewable Funds since 1997

• Active members include: Bereaved Families of Ontario, CMHA Ottawa Branch, City of Ottawa Public Health Department, Distress Centre of Ottawa, Ottawa Hospital, Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Services, Ottawa Carleton District School Board, Nepean Community Resource Centre, Victims Crisis Service of Ottawa Police Services, Youth Net,Youth Services Bureau

OUR MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

• Mission: The Ottawa Suicide Prevention Coalition works in partnership with the Ottawa Community to develop and support a comprehensive strategy to prevent suicide.

Objectives:• To maintain the integrity of the Ottawa Suicide Prevention

Coalition and its plan in progress• To provide a forum for sharing concerns and gathering

information regarding suicide• To facilitate the development of strategies to meet the needs for

suicide prevention, intervention and “postvention”• To inform and educate the public about suicide and prevention •  

HIGHLIGHT OF ACTIVITIES IN 2011-2012

• 34 new safeTALK trainers trained in 2011 • 11 safeTALK workshops funded and to be conducted for

200+ youth service providers, youth and parents• 14 new Post Suicide Debriefers available for a total of 30• Development of the media guidelines• New website will be launched

www.ottawasuicidepreventioncoalition.com • Organization of a Suicide Prevention event in 2012

POST SUICIDE DEBRIEFING TEAM

What is a debriefing: • A debriefing is a structured one to three-hour group

session occurring within two weeks of the suicide. • Offers a safe, confidential setting where the emphasis is

on sharing thoughts, feelings and experiences. • Group members learn about stress reactions and

community resources. • Follow-up occurs

WHO CAN BE INVOLVED IN A DEBRIEFING?

• Members of a sports team

• Co-workers

• Staff members/clients of a helping agency

• Members of a community association

• Neighbours

• Debriefing is not for family members

WHAT CAN YOU DO TOHELP OTHERS AND YOURSELF?

• Arrange a debriefing session as soon as possible• Be aware of some of the reactions (feelings of shock,

confusion, guilt, sleep difficulties, lack of appetite, headaches and isolation)

• Talk about what happened• Know that your reactions are natural• Find out about other available resources

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TRAINING, THE PSDT TEAM, AND RESOURCES:

www.cmhaottawa.cawww.ottawasuicidepreventioncoalition.com

CMHA: 613-737-7791

SANDY CLEMENTREGIONAL DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, BELL

The KNOW WHAT TO DO Guide is generously sponsored by  / Le guide SAVOIR QUOI FAIRE est

généreusement appuyé par

HOW TO GET YOUR COPIES OF THE KNOW WHAT TO DO GUIDE

Copies are available through the Ottawa Public Health Information Line:613-580-6744 Toll free: 1-866-426-8885

YOU ARE WARMLY INVITED TO SHARE IDEAS AND COMMENTS ON THE BANNER15 minute intermission

BUILDING ONWHAT WE KNOW

Ian ManionExecutive Director of the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health

Alex MunterPresident and CEO, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

IT IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE

It is just as important how you talk about it.

CLOSING REMARKSCouncillor Allan Hubley