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Free, rapid-access counselling is now available in Saskatchewan to support families and friends of those who have died by suicide or who survived with significant injury or trauma.
The provincial government has promised $200,000 annually to Family Service Saskatchewan to help operate the Rapid-Access Counselling for Suicide Loss Program.
According to a release from the provincial government, Family Service Saskatchewan will offer people services that can include referrals, counselling, navigation support, education and awareness for families and communities.
“Family Service Saskatchewan is developing a network that families and friends can be referred to by individuals, families, health providers, police and other first responders immediately following a suicide or suicide attempt with significant injury or trauma,” the release said.
The program will be available across the province virtually or by phone. As well, four in-person locations will offer sessions in Regina (Family Service Regina), Saskatoon (Family Service Saskatoon), Prince Albert (Catholic Family Services) and Humboldt (PARTNERS Family Services).
Tim McLeod, the province’s minister of mental health and addictions, said when people have lost someone due to suicide, it can increase their own risk of suicide due to unresolved grief or trauma.
“Any loss due to suicide is a tragedy,” McLeod said during a media event Wednesday. “We are certainly working hard though our provincial strategy, Pillars for Life, and to help individuals though losing someone.”
The Rapid-Access Counselling for Suicide Loss Program hopes to get friends and families of those who have committed suicide into counselling faster. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
McLeod said recommendations were made to improve the province’s current suicide strategy.
Pillars for Life has been widely criticized. Some critics have said the province hasn’t addressed the determinants of health like intergenerational trauma, poverty, colonization, accessibility to good health care, and food security.
In 2021, the province passed The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention after it was introduced a third time by then-NDP MLA Doyle Vermette.
In 2020, Tristen Durocher walked 600 kilometres from La Loche to the Legislative Building in Regina to raise awareness about high rates of suicide in Saskatchewan’s north. He camped on the Legislature’s grounds and participated in a 44-day fast with different leaders from the north.
Kirk Englot, the CEO of Family Service Saskatchewan, said the new program is meant to help reduce the wait list for counselling.
“We built our rapid-access model (because) we wanted a simple pathway to care,” said Englot.
The program has stripped down intake and eligibility assessments with the goal of getting people into counselling sessions faster.
“We created a program that people can book straight into,” Englot said.
More information on how to book a session is available here.