Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund donates $25,000 to the Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton to support the rollout of SafeTALK training

Police Chief Glenn De Caire, Hamilton Police Service, Kristine Wilson, Associate Director, Bell Community Investment, Sid Stacey, Chair, SPCCH, Lena Demarco, Regional Director, Bell Community Affairs

Police Chief Glenn De Caire, Hamilton Police Service, Kristine Wilson, Associate Director, Bell Community Investment, Sid Stacey, Chair, SPCCH, Lena Demarco, Regional Director, Bell Community Affairs

Hamilton, February 10, 2015 – The Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton (SPCCH) is pleased to receive a $25,000 grant from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund to support evidence-based suicide prevention education and training for 750 first responders in the police, paramedic and fire services in Hamilton. First interveners, such as police officers, firefighters and paramedic services are often a first line resource for people who have significant mental health, emotional or substance abuse issues that may be suicidal.

“We are extremely grateful to Bell Let’s Talk for making such an important investment in suicide prevention education and training in our community,” said Sid Stacey, SPCCH Chair. “To create a suicide safer community, it is important to bring suicide into the mainstream conversation, create a community that is alert to the potential of thoughts of suicide, and foster help seeking behaviour.”

SafeTALK prepares helpers to identify people with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. Most people with thoughts of suicide, either directly or indirectly, invite help to stay safe. Alert helpers know how to identify and work with these situations to help protect life. This training will teach the most appropriate actions to take when suicidal thoughts are a concern to others. It includes advice on starting the conversation with those who are vulnerable and information on local resources they can tap into.

“With the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant we have built SafeTALK Training related to suicide intervention into our annual Block Training,” said Hamilton Police Chief Glenn De Caire. “The session provides important information about suicide prevention and all of our officers and civilians will receive this training by the end of June. As a Service, we continue to encourage and engage in courageous conversations in support of accessing services and reducing stigma.”

“Since 2011, the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund has invested more than $4 million to support groups working to improve access to mental health care in communities throughout Canada,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk. “We are pleased to provide this support for the Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton’s SafeTALK program. The SPCCH is one of  almost 60 organizations to receive a grant from the 2014 Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund to extend much-needed help to people living with mental illness and the family and friends who care for them.”

The annual Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund supports organizations in Canada focused on improving access to programs and services that support and help improve the mental health and wellbeing of people living with mental health issues from coast to coast to coast with grants in the range of $5,000 to $50,000. Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund. The 2015 application period is open until March 31 and all 2015 Fund grants will be disbursed before December 31, 2015.

To apply for 2015 funding, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
The Bell Let’s Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns, like Clara’s Big Ride for Bell Let’s Talk and Bell Let’s Talk Day, and significant Bell funding of community care and access, research, and workplace programs.

To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk

The SPCCH is a not-for-profit charitable organization involving professionals and individuals from the community who are interested in suicide prevention and its related issues.  The Council was founded in 1980 and in 2010 launched the Hamilton Suicide Prevention Strategy supported by over 35 key community stakeholders such at the City of Hamilton, local school boards, hospitals, police services, social service and mental health agencies and business.  The suicide prevention strategy guides the work of the SPCCH as it works towards a vision of a suicide safer Hamilton.

For more information:

Sid Stacey, Chair SPCCH
www.spcch.org
sstacey@mcmaster.ca