Roots of Hope is also offered in Buffalo Narrows and Meadow Lake. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

suicide prevention

Roots of Hope continues online amid pandemic

May 7, 2021 | 5:00 PM

The provincial government is celebrating the one-year anniversary for Pillars of Life: The Saskatchewan Suicide Prevention Plan.

In a news release issued Friday, it was announced Pillars for Life was released in May 2020 as a starting point for Saskatchewan that is being built upon by government and partners to improve and expand suicide prevention efforts in the province. It’s meant to serve as a guide to coordinate activities to promote life and reduce risk factors related to suicide in Saskatchewan.

“The loss of one life to suicide is too many,” said Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health minister Everett Hindley in the new release. “We continue to work closely with our partners on the priorities in the Pillars for Life plan. I am pleased to provide an update on what has been accomplished and where we’re focusing this year.”

Some key actions during the first year have included the recruitment and hiring by the Saskatchewan Health Authority of a suicide prevention and wellness coordinator, a mental health public awareness campaign and the continued implementation of the Roots of Hope program in three communities, including La Ronge.

The goal of Roots of Hope is to identify best practices and models for suicide prevention. There are also programs underway in Buffalo Narrows and Meadow Lake, but each community group hosts different events to determine which activities work the best.

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“It’s been quite the journey because it has been a year now since COVID has affected our community,” La Ronge project coordinator Cathy Wheaton told larongeNOW. “We really had to change a lot of our activities. Previously, we were doing a lot of ASIST and SafeTalk training, so that kind of activity kind of came to a standstill.”

Much of the local Roots of Hope events have moved online in the last year such as programs for girls wellness and suicide intervention training. Radio campaigns are also ongoing.

In May, Wheaton explained there are two events the public can get involved with. Next week, there will be a workshop on how to talk about suicide experiences safely in a public forum. At the end of the month, another workshop will be about understanding addictions and the characteristics of it. There is no cost associated with either event.

“We also have some wellness seminars planned for one of our communities that is shaping up pretty well,” Wheaton said.

In 2021-22, the Government of Saskatchewan is investing a record high total of $458 million for mental health and addiction services and supports, including a new investment of $1 million to support suicide prevention.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno