This year the province is investing $2 million to support 14 community based projects in an effort to reduce youth suicide in Alberta. The grants focus on working with community organizations to provide local and unique supports to reflect the youth they support, such as United Way. “We see investing in kids and youth time and time again produces better outcomes, and we know that targeted investments like this one related to suicide prevention are really important,” said Rob Yager, president and CEO of the Alberta Capital Region United Way. The local chapter’s program All in for Youth provides school-based mentoring, mental health services, academic support and family resources to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. “It’s a tough time for kids with the pressures they face from the phone to not knowing what the future is like when there is so much instability in the universe,” said Tim Adams, executive director of Free Play for Kids. Alberta’s overall suicide rate sits above the national average at about 14 per 100,000 population. The suicide rate for Indigenous youth in the province is five to six times higher than those who are not Indigenous. Between 63 and 67 per cent of LGBTQ2S+ youth ages 14 to 25 in Alberta have reported experiencing thoughts of suicide. The province has awarded grants to the following organizations: More than 3,270 youths have used services and programming supported by the Youth Suicide Prevention Grant.
