This week Edmontonians are invited to gather at City Hall on September 13, 2012 from 4 - 6 PM for the 10th annual Lift the Silence March to honour the memory of hundreds of beloved Albertans, and to raise much-needed awareness around the cause of their tragic deaths: suicide.
Suicide statistics indicate a serious public health issue that calls for much-needed increased public attention.
Most of us know that about 2977 people died in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
But how many of us know:
that in 2001, and each year since about 3,700 Canadians die by suicide,
that over 400 Albertans die annually by suicide, most under the age of 45,
that Worldwide, suicide rates have increased by over 60% over the past 50 years, especially among younger people?
How many us know that suicide is the single greatest cause of violent death, more than car accidents, homicide, and war combined?
Who knew that in the decade since 9/11 the average age of the person who dies by suicide would be getting younger and younger, and that the number of young and middle-aged people who suicide continues to rise?
We need to know now, and we need to respond compassionately from that awareness to help reduce suicide-related suffering. Otherwise, as each week passes, we will continue to lose healthy, talented, and beloved Albertans.
So let’s march forward on this issue. Consider attending the 11th Annual Lifting the Silence Suicide Awareness March this Thursday September 13th at City Hall from 4 - 6 PM. Let's march as a community to honour our shared grief over the tragic loss of far too many of its beloved citizens. Let's move forward in our awareness and our commitment to reduce suicide in Edmonton, in Alberta, across Canada, and around the world.
Suicide statistics indicate a serious public health issue that calls for much-needed increased public attention.
Most of us know that about 2977 people died in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
But how many of us know:
that in 2001, and each year since about 3,700 Canadians die by suicide,
that over 400 Albertans die annually by suicide, most under the age of 45,
that Worldwide, suicide rates have increased by over 60% over the past 50 years, especially among younger people?
How many us know that suicide is the single greatest cause of violent death, more than car accidents, homicide, and war combined?
Who knew that in the decade since 9/11 the average age of the person who dies by suicide would be getting younger and younger, and that the number of young and middle-aged people who suicide continues to rise?
We need to know now, and we need to respond compassionately from that awareness to help reduce suicide-related suffering. Otherwise, as each week passes, we will continue to lose healthy, talented, and beloved Albertans.
So let’s march forward on this issue. Consider attending the 11th Annual Lifting the Silence Suicide Awareness March this Thursday September 13th at City Hall from 4 - 6 PM. Let's march as a community to honour our shared grief over the tragic loss of far too many of its beloved citizens. Let's move forward in our awareness and our commitment to reduce suicide in Edmonton, in Alberta, across Canada, and around the world.
RSS Feed
