The conversation is growing, but the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health problems is not gone.
Suicide is still a leading cause of death for people ages 20-44 and the rates aren’t decreasing, according to the 2014 Ottawa Community Wellbeing Report.
The report, released Oct. 7, points out that “mental health supports continue to be important” for the Ottawa region.
In light of the steady suicide rate, the Royal Mental Health Care and Research Centre in Ottawa recently announced a $2-million donation to create a research chair in suicide prevention. The Oct. 8 announcement coincided with Mental Health Awareness Week.
Do It for Daron and the Mach-Gaensslen Foundation each contributed $1 million to the fund. DIFD is an Ottawa-based mental health organization launched after the death of 14-year-old Daron Richardson, daughter of retired NHL player Luke Richardson, in 2010. Mach-Gaensslen is also an Ottawa based foundation that encourages medical research.
The Royal is looking for a clinician-researcher to join its world-class mental health research team, says Karen Monaghan, communications manager at The Royal.
“The goal is to share the research as broadly as possible to impact as many people as possible,” says Monaghan. “We want to create solutions that can be effective in our community, the broader country, and even internationally.”
At the announcement of the $2-million gift, Ernie Gibbs, a mental health counsellor at the Centretown Community Health Centre, expressed excitement as well as some words of caution.
“It’s a significant amount of money and we need to work together and collaborate and make sure the voices of marginalized communities are not left behind,” says Gibbs.
Marginalized communities can include the GLBTQ groups, aboriginal people and immigrants, each of which have unique needs and risk factors, he explains.
Gibbs works with GLBTTQU youth (gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, queer and questioning), helping them cope with sexual orientation and gender identity issues.
And according to Gibbs, the young people in this community are often at a higher risk for suicide, an issue brought to the fore in 2011 with the death of Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley’s 15-year-old son Jamie.
“It’s a challenge to decrease suicide rates and create a safer and more inclusive community if we’re not acknowledging that GLBTQ are disproportionately affected by suicide, ” says Gibbs.
According to Rainbow Health Ontario, attempted suicide rates for LGB youth are two to seven times higher than rates among their straight peers.
“We can shift things through research, which will have an impact on providing clinical resources to those in need . . . but we also need research that’s asking the kinds of questions that are going to be relevant,” says Gibbs.
The 10-year research chair position will aim to gather knowledge and actively disseminate research to mental healthcare facilities across the country. Details on specific projects the chair will be undertaking are not yet confirmed, says Monaghan.
Leslie Scott, community relations co-ordinator for the Ottawa Distress Centre, says research and funding mental health organizations is vital.
The Metcalfe Street centre has seen a steady increase in the number of crisis calls it receives. This year, the 24-hour, 365-days-a-year centre is projected to receive more than 50,000 calls, compared with 38,000 calls in 2012.
“Need is increasing year by year and jumping by significant numbers,” says Scott.
She says while it can be disheartening to receive so many calls, it means more people are reaching out to get the resources they need.
“It says something about what we’re doing in our community. People are spreading the word and they’re starting to open up about the stigma of mental health and want to get the help,” says Scott.
Ottawa’s crisis line is 613-238-3311.