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Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention

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Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention(CASP)/L’Association canadienne purl la prevention du suicide(ACPS), incorporated in 1985, is a non-governmental organization which brings attention to the problem of suicide in Canada and advocates for services, research, education and other supports in the area of suicide prevention and bereavement, across diverse Canadian cultures.[1] CASP presents an annual conference which provides opportunities for networking and the exchange of ideas and information related to suicide prevention, intervention and postvention.[2]

History

CASP has its origins in an International Association for Suicide Prevention(IASP) meeting in Ottawa in 1979. This was the first major suicide prevention event in Canada, and sparked talks about setting up a similar organization in Canada. Primarily through the efforts of Jim Brown out of Winnipeg and Diane Syer(Toronto), CASP was incorporated in 1985; however, because Syer left Canada for the United States and Brown chose another area of study, CASP ceased to function by 1986.

In 1987 Marcia Krawll, Brian Mishara, Linda Rosenfeld, Bob Sims, Bryan Tanney and Antoon Leenaars met in Lake Louise and later in Quebec to resurrecte CASP. A five-year plan was developed focusing on the following initiatives: building membership; networking and communication; developing conferences; addressing suicide among First Nations and Inuit Canadians; promoting research and improving operational structures.

In 1988, CASP was formally resuscitated by Antoon Leenaars at a June 1988 meeting in Montreal hosted by Suicide Action, Montreal. Leenaars was named president; the first office of CASP was in his home in Windsor Ontario. Later, the Suicide Information and Education Centre (SIEC) in Calgary served as the headquarters of CASP for its early years. In 1989, CASP’s first regional conference was held in Toronto, chaired by Isaac Sakinofsky.

The first national conference in 1990 was called “Lifting the silence” and was held in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was chaired by Marcia Krawll, Linda Rosenfeld and Brian Tanney. The keynote was delivered by American suicidology pioneer Edwin Shneidman. About 500 people, mostly caregivers, clinicians and researchers, attended. Here is full list of the annual conference and the respective host cities:

1988-Montreal 1989-Toronto 1990-Vancouver 1991-Moncton, New Brunswick 1992-Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 1993-Montreal, QC 1994-Iqaluit, Northwest Territories 1995-Banff, Alberta 1996-Toronto, Ontario 1997-Thunder Bay, Ontario 1998-Winnipeg, Manitoba 1999-Halifax, Nova Scotia 2000-Vancouver, British Columbia 2001-St. John’s Newfoundland 2002-Fredericton, New Brusnwick 2003- Iqaluit, Nunavut 2004-Edmonton, Alberta 2005-Ottawa, Ontario 2006-Toronto, Ontario 2007-Yellowknife, Northwest Territories 2008-Quebec City, Quebec 2009-Brandon, Manitoba 2010-Halifax, Nova Scotia 2011-Vancouver, British Columbia 2012-Niagara Falls, Ontario 2013-Winnipeg, Manitoba 2014-Virtual/Online conference 2015-Montreal, Quebec/Coincided with IASP conference 2016-Iqaluit, Nunavut[3] 2017-Toronto, Ontario 2018-St. John’s, Newfoundland 2019-Edmonton, Alberta

Advocacy

Advocacy efforts undertaken by CASP since 1988 have included encouraging the federal government to research suicide and suicide prevention, health promotion, and national suicide prevention efforts.[4]

In 2004 CASP published The CASP Blueprint for a Canadian National Suicide Prevention Strategy; a second edition was published in 2009. It was essentially a call to the federal government to create a national strategy for suicide prevention.[5] A national strategy has still not been created, although a national framework was issued in 2013; the CASP document has become the blueprint for suicide prevention initiatives throughout Canada. [6]

Today

CASP currently located in Ottawa. The organization continues to gather and provide information about suicide prevention in Canada,[7] and maintains a phone contact line for those considering suicide.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Halifax police chief wIoanna Roumeliotis. [https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/subway-suicide-prevention-ttc "Out of darkness". *CBC. (Sept. 14,2019).ants to explore releasing monthly suicide stats"]. Global News, June 20, 2017
  2. ^ Government of Canada. "Related national efforts and milestones: Suicide related research in Canada: B. Related national efforts and key milestones". (Sept. 12, 2005).
  3. ^ "From racism to resource development, here are the political stories Inuit watched in 2016". Elyse Skura · CBC News Jan 1, 2017
  4. ^ "Canadians rally in support of suicide prevention". Canadian Mental Health Association website (Sept.8,2012)
  5. ^ "Suicide policies in Canada and beyond: What's working and what needs to change". Ottawa Citizen, Joanne Laucius, April 18, 2019
  6. ^ Rebecca Sanford. "Working together to prevent suicide, alleviate suffering". Kamloops This Week, September 5, 2019
  7. ^ "World Suicide Prevention Awarness Day in Prince Rupert". The Northern View, Jenna CoculloSep. 13, 2019
  8. ^ "Disturbing 'Momo Challenge' addressed in West Shore schools". CTV Vancouver Island, February 27, 2019
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