Minto Fire and the Town of Minto are spear-heading an effort to bring the community together for a conversation about recent suicides in Minto and northern Wellington County.
“Sadly, there have recently been several tragic losses in our community,” states a press release announcing a Community Conversation on Suicide set for June 14 Norwell District Secondary School.
“This evening is an opportunity to learn and ask questions about suicide such as how to notice signs of distress and what resources there are, or need to be, available in the community. There will be time to share ideas on how we can all support resiliency in our community,” the release states.
Cecilia Marie Roberts, a life promotion/suicide prevention consultant from the Ontario Centre of Excellence, along with various local service providers, will be on hand to lead the discussion.
Anyone who would like to become involved with the committee or would like to contribute to the cause is urged to contact fire chief assistant Callise Loos at c.loos@mintofiredept.on.ca or economic development assistant Taylor Keunen at taylor@town.minto.on.ca.
In a report to Minto council on June 5, Loos and Keunen explained the meeting is the first step in an initiative resulting from a brainstorming session hosted by the Norwell school community in May.
The meeting, involving community partners such as Canadian Mental Health Association, Homewood Health, Minto Fire, concerned parents and Minto Youth Action Council, focused on recent suicides impacting both youth and adults in the area.
Organizers are viewing the June 14 meeting, which will be held at 6:30pm in the Norwell gymnasium, as an information gathering session to “understand the needs and wants of the community.”
“As many of you know there’s been lots of loss experienced in the Minto community in the last six months, particularly with our youth but with the rest of the population as well,” Loos told council.
She noted Minto Fire has been working on post traumatic stress disorder prevention and critical incident stress management policies over the past six months.
“Members of our community have been reaching us as … a response agency and asking us questions about what resources are available for those that are affected with loss, or suicide prevention, or mental health and wellness programs and we really don’t have that many answers right now,” Loos added.
