Community Education

The Crisis Centre’s Community Education team works to foster hope that, collectively, we can increase community wellness and prevent suicide.  To that end, we provide education and training aimed at enhancing resiliency and providing practical tools for identifying and responding to crisis and suicide in our communities.

Suicide is a significant public health concern with widespread effect on communities. Current research indicates that each year, approximately 500 people die by suicide in British Columbia. We know that an even higher number attempt suicide each year, and that between 6-10% of the population seriously contemplates suicide during at least one point in their lives. Many other individuals are affected by crisis in their lives, benefiting from support to help get through difficult times.

While these statistics are staggering, our Community Education program finds hope in research that indicates:

  • Many suicides are preventable;
  • Building individual and community resiliency helps prevent suicide (e.g. enhancing coping skills and community and familial supports that increase sense of belonging);
  • Approximately 80% of people who kill themselves signal their suicidal intentions to others;
  • Reducing stigma and talking openly about suicide are key to preventing suicide.

Our Programs & Services
The Community Education Program recognizes that everyone can play a role in suicide prevention and that collectively we can make a difference. We provide comprehensive suicide prevention programs based on evidence informed research. To this end, we offer the following range of services: