it's time for a NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN
May / 22 / 2018
NOT ONE MORE: ANGUS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION ACTION PLAN
Parliamentary motion, M-174, calls on the government to implement a national, evidence-based action plan to prevent suicide.
Canada is one of the only G7 countries without a national plan to prevent suicide. We know these plans work – after the province of Quebec implemented one, their rates of death by suicide dropped by over 40%.
​
We need action to address the issue of suicide everywhere in Canada and for all of those affected – we need flexible, responsive solutions on reserve and in the North, in the LGBTQ community, among older workers, and for the families left behind by suicide.
Read the full text of the motion here.
You can support the campaign by writing to your MP, attending a Support M-174 Town Hall Meeting (check the Charlie Angus NDP-NPD Facebook Events page for dates and locations) and sharing this campaign with your friends, family and community.
CAMPAIGN ENDORSERS
CAMPAIGN UPDATE:
Motion-174 is coming to Parliament for debate.
The first hour of debate will take place on Monday, February 4th. You can watch the debate live starting at 11 am on www.cpac.ca
Contact your Member of Parliament - urge them to support this important piece of legislation.
July 13, 2018
A mere seven months ago, the Canada Suicide Prevention Service (CSPS) launched a national call, text and chat service to help people suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. The program has been an enormous success offering support to people across this vast country. And yet, because of a lack of federal government funding, it is facing shutdown. We can't sit back and let this happen.
It is unconscionable that the federal government would let such an important lifeline for Canadians fail after a mere seven months in operation.
So what can you do?
Please email the Minister of Health (hcminister.ministresc@canada.ca) calling on her to extend funding for the CSPS. If you want to send a letter of support, you can use the form letter here.
June 28, 2018
Read the article and listen to Charlie's interview with CBC on the lack of mental health support for Hill staffers. Parliament Hill is not immune to the crisis of suicide. We must do a better job of ensuring people have the support they need in stressful work environments.
Click here to read the full article.
Support M-174 Town Hall Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 22nd in Scarborough.
Visit the Charlie Angus NDP-NPD Facebook Event page for more details and to RSVP.
WRITE TO YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
- Template Letter -
FIRST: Find out who your MP is (if you don’t already know) by entering your postal code at this website.
SECOND: Either email or send by post (no postage required) a letter like the one below asking your MP to show support for M-174 calling for a National Suicide Prevention Action Plan. Feel free to add your story or connection with mental health, as personalizing the message will help bring home the need for national action!
THIRD: If you get a response from your Member of Parliament, share it with us by sending a copy to charlie.angus@parl.gc.ca
—TEMPLATE LETTER—
________________________ MP for ____________________________
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Dear ____________________________________,
I am writing to ask that you support M-174 the motion calling for a National Suicide Prevention Action Plan sponsored by MP Charlie Angus and endorsed by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), and the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP).
​
Canada is one of the only developed countries without a national plan to prevent suicide, an approach long recommended by the World Health Organization, and has one of the highest rates of suicide in the developed world. Some of our regions, such as Nunavut and Northern Ontario, have rates far above the national average. We need to take action, and we know this works. The province of Quebec has dramatically lowered its suicide rate by developing and implementing an action plan.
​
In 2011, Justin Trudeau stood in the House of Commons and told the Canadian people, “We must take action because we can. We need to have a national suicide strategy to reach people in need in every sector of our society. We must put our efforts into improving life for our citizens.”
​
That was 7 years ago. We have the power to take action on a national level to prevent suicide. We as Canadians have a responsibility to protect those who are at risk. This is a nonpartisan issue; it affects every part of this country.
I am asking you to please, as my Member of Parliament, as a Canadian, to do what is right and support M-174 and the need for a national action plan for suicide prevention.
​
Sincerely,
​
​
______________________________________
​
cc. Charlie Angus, MP Timmins – James Bay