Living Hope

Living Hope is the Edmonton community’s collective response to suicide. Our aim is to prevent suicide by bringing intention into action through a collaborative effort. Living Hope was developed by a committee of dedicated organizations and individuals who believe that suicide can be prevented in our city.

Our Goals

Goal 1: To provide awareness and education that promotes positive mental health, reduces the stigma of suicide and provides an understanding of how to help someone considering suicide

Goal 2: To ensure the whole continuum of services – prevention, intervention, postvention – is fully accessible

Goal 3: To address the needs of higher risk populations

Key Messages

Suicide prevention remains a universal challenge. Every year approximately 4500 people in Canada, and 500 people in Alberta die by suicide.
For every suicide, 25 people make a suicide attempt and many more have serious thoughts of suicide.
Every life lost represents someone’s partner, child, parent, friend or colleague. For each suicide approximately 135 people suffer intense grief or are otherwise affected.
Behind each suicide or attempted suicide a complex web of factors is at play. No single cause explains or predicts suicide. However, certain groups who experience overlapping biological, psychological, social and cultural risk factors can become vulnerable to suicide. At the same time, protective factors can reduce risk and build resilience among all people.
Challenging as it is, recovery from suicidality is possible. While thoughts of suicide may continue intermittently throughout someone’s life, with appropriate caregiver support, social connectedness and hope, people can recover from suicidality.

For more information on the warning signs of suicide and how to start a conversation visit 11ofus.ca

It is important to say "died by suicide" rather than committed suicide. The term "committed" implies something morally reprehensible or illegal.

MYTH: Talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal may encourage suicide attempts.

FACT: Talking about suicide with someone who may be suicidal reduces the risk that they may attempt.

Edmonton Statistics

In 2021, 129 people died by suicide in Edmonton Zone, 30 female and 99 male.

Note: When retrieving suicide death data select Injury > Age-Standardized Mortality Rates - by Geography > Suicide and Self Inflicted Injury (under ‘Injury Type’).

View the Interactive Health Data Application

View stats by region and age

view EDMONTON SUICIDE TRENDS REPORT

Training Opportunities

Living Hope: A Community Plan to Prevent Suicide in Edmonton offers a number of suicide prevention training opportunities to Edmontonians, free of charge. For course descriptions and training dates, visit 11ofus.ca/training-education/

Suicide Prevention, Risk Assessment & Management (SPRAM)
SPRAM is a web-based, interactive e-Learning series designed to respond to the foundational learning needs of health practitioners working in Addiction and Mental Health. Visit albertahealthservices.ca to take the training.

Learning Opportunities

Alberta Health Services Community of Practice SUBSCRIBE HERE →
Stay up to date on Suicide Prevention in Edmonton by subscribing to the Living Hope Newsletter. SUBSCRIBE HERE →
Centre for Suicide Prevention Research Roundup: a curated summary of the latest Canadian and international suicide research. SUBSCRIBE HERE →
Centre for Suicide Prevention Weekly News Roundup SUBSCRIBE HERE →
Tough Enough to Talk About It: Workplace Presentations and Videos
WHAT CAN I DO? Information for People Who Love Someone at risk for Suicide or Who has Survived an Attempt. READ MORE →
Suicide in Canada, Key Statistics Infographic: VIEW INFOGRAPHIC →
Mental Health Commission of Canada: Webinars and Resources on suicide prevention, life promotion, intervention, and the community response to suicide prevention.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): Prevention tools and resources →
Centre for Suicide Prevention Safety Plans to Prevent Suicide Took Kit:
LEARN MORE →
Substance Use and Suicide Prevention. Blog post written by the Centre of Suicide Prevention discussing the links between the two topics.

For Survivors of Suicide

“Life after a suicide attempt can be extremely stressful and confusing, and it is okay to ask for help. It is also important to remember that needing help is not the same as being helpless. You are in control of your own life, and there are actions you can take that may help you work through your experience.”

Written by Wesley Jones, a local mental health advocate and suicide attempt survivor

Read his story →

For People Who Have Attempted Suicide

Find Emotional Support

Edmonton offers a variety of support groups and therapy options to help you work through the factors that may have contributed to your attempt. Read more →

Take Some Training

Mental health training can help you both support others who may be going through similar challenges as well as help you see your experience from an outside perspective. Learning about the psychological and biological factors surrounding suicide attempts can help us better understand what can otherwise be a very confusing event for us. Read more →

Write/Share Your Story

Writing and speaking your story allows you to tell it the way you want. The more we tell our story the less control it has over us. Writing is a valuable form of self-expression and can often help us to articulate the messier aspects of our experience. Read more →

Become a Volunteer and Advocate

Helping others who are experiencing what you have been through can be empowering. Advocacy work can sometimes be emotionally intense, only volunteer if you feel you are well enough to do so. Advocacy work is a very personal journey and may look different for everyone. Read more →

For Those Who Have Lost Someone

Videos

Buddy Up

Buddy Up is a men’s suicide prevention communications

Tomorrow's Hope

First Nations youth suicide prevention motion comic created by and for First Nations and Métis youth.

Strength of the Sash

Métis youth suicide prevention motion comic intended to help youth, their friends, families and trusted adults discuss youth suicide prevention.

We All Believe In You Documentary

We All Believe in You started as a portrait project and grew into an Edmonton based mental health organization that saves lives daily. Learn more about We All Believe In You HERE →

For more videos on suicide prevention visit the multimedia page on the Centre for Suicide Prevention’s Website.

Media Guidelines

For Further Exploration

Do You or Someone You Know Need Help?

Suicide Crisis Help Line:
988 (24/7 call or text)

Brite Line (2SLGBTQIA+ All Ages Support Line):
1-844-70-BRITE (27483)

Access 24/7:
780-424-2424

Mental Health Help Line:
1-877-303-2642

Hope for Wellness Help Line (Indigenous Support Line):
1-855-242-3310

Not Sure Who to Call? Call 211

If you see someone in distress, you can help before emergency services are needed by calling 211 and pressing 3.