Black History Month Wrap-Up
Updated and Republished February 2024. Throughout February, in acknowledgement and celebration of Black History Month we shared information about local and national organizations and programs which serve Black individuals and the community. To keep these resources accessible for those who need them, we thought it would be useful to compile them in one place on […]
It’s Random Act of Kindness Day!
Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day, which got us thinking: how are random acts of kindness connected to the work of suicide prevention? Well, random acts of kindness are simple acts of friendliness or generosity towards another person who we may or may not know. These can be things such as saying “good morning” […]
Special Announcement: We Have a New Logo!
Since 1997, the Council has worked to reduce suicide and its impact in the Waterloo Region community. Over the past 25 years, we have evolved from primarily providing suicide prevention awareness and education in the community, to offering a variety of services including access to suicide alertness trainings, the administration of the “Why…” Support After […]
Winter Wellbeing Passport 2022
Last year, the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council launched the first Winter Break Wellbeing Passport. The passport encouraged families to go on an adventure towards greater mental and physical wellbeing during the winter break. This year, we are excited to release an updated passport with some new activities that you can participate in on your […]
Understanding the Barriers to Seeking Help
Over the past several years, it seems that Canadians have become more comfortable talking about mental health, stress, and life’s challenges. However, many still struggle with asking for help and support. In this blog, we discuss some reasons why asking for help can be difficult, as well as ways you can support someone as they […]
Back to School Resources
In September, students across our Region will start a new semester or school year. New beginnings and periods of transition can be challenging for some. To help support our community, WRSPC has compiled a list of mental health resources for students attending school, including post-secondary, in the Region of Waterloo. Please note: links for each […]
How to Share Your Story Safely
Sharing your story, whether you have lived/living experience with suicide behaviours or have been bereaved by suicide, can be meaningful for yourself and others. Telling your story is a way to share information, provide hope, and honor someone who died by suicide. However, research has shown that sometimes, sharing a personal experience with suicide can […]
World Suicide Prevention Day 2022
World Suicide Prevention Day provides an opportunity for our community to gather, to remember, and to heal. Each year the WRSPC hosts an annual World Suicide Prevention Day event, encouraging anyone in our community to join together. While the event is centered around acknowledging those whose lives have been touched by suicide, it is also […]
“Together for Life” National Conference on Suicide Prevention
From Wednesday, May 11 to Friday, May 13, 2022, the WRSPC team attended the “Together for Life” National Conference on Suicide Prevention in Montréal, Quebec. The conference was jointly organized by the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP), the Centre for Research and Intervention on Suicide, Ethical Issues and End-of-Life Practices (CRISE) at UQAM, and […]
Empathy and Suicide Prevention
This post is part of our #MentalHealthWeek series on empathy and suicide prevention. To view the entire series, click here. Empathy and Suicide Prevention Empathy is important for supporting mental health, and we want to focus on the specific role that empathy plays in suicide prevention. One way to help prevent suicide is to notice […]