Bail out for cash-strapped suicide prevention group
Sarnia-Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee continue helping struggling Lambton residents after losing $20,000 in funding.
The organization issued a news release in late April saying it didn’t have enough money to operate after losing $20,000 funding it usually received from the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton.
But a generous community has filled in the gaps, according to officials.
Committee Co-Chair Liz Page says the Sarnia Professional Fire Fighters have provided $10,000, with Bluewater Power chipping in another $10,000 and Robert E. Dale Engineering of Corunna contributing $5,000.
The suicide prevention committee has been in existence for nearly 30 years, but it was in 2016, when the group received its first $20,000 contribution from the United Way. The funding allowed the committee to hire a part-time coordinator.
But after years of support, Page said the United Way redirected funds to deal with the homelessness crisis, something, which she argues, can be easily connected to suicide prevention.
Page is grateful for the contributions made by the three groups, the committee is worried about stable funding into the future.
The committee will apply again to the United Way next year and work on a sustainability plan for long-term funding.
One of the many things the coordinator has been responsible for is planning community safeTalk training opportunities. The training teaches people how to help those with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources in helping them choose life.
So far, about 3,000 community members have taken the program with the help of eight different trainers.
The coordinator also works with facilitators of the suicide loss support group and its partner group, Side by Side which support family members who have lost someone by suicide.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people. Men between the age of 40 and 50 have the highest overall rate of suicide.
Page said it is also prevalent in the elderly population.
, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Independent
