The Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbors (SIGN) hosted a suicide prevention training session for professionals in Yorkton. Volunteers from first-response agencies, the City of Yorkton, the Good Spirit School Division and other organizations gathered Wednesday for a four-hour training session. “What we’re trying to do is take a trauma-informed approach to a difficult conversation,” SIGN lead counsellor Benjamin Swanson told CTV News. According to data from the Saskatchewan Coroners’ Service, suicide rates in Saskatchewan have not seen notable increases since the pandemic in 2022, but the province loses more than 200 people each year to suicide. Despite those figures, organizers said the topic remains stigmatized. “What we found is everyone is either apprehensive or has their own stigma or bias in approaching it, and that’s okay,” Swanson explained. “But it doesn’t mean you need to bring that into the conversation when you’re trying to support somebody.” The program aims to equip participants with tools to make suicide-related conversations more comfortable and natural through discussions and scenario-based activities. “If you’re in a conversation with someone [experiencing suicidal thoughts], listening to them and connecting them to a higher level of care is the ultimate goal, and it does take training.” “I thought that it would be really great to have a better grasp on how you can have those important conversations with people,” said Yorkton’s Bylaw & Safety Supervisor Nicole Baptist, who participated in the training. She praised the transferability of the skills she gained on Wednesday, noting the tools can be used beyond conversations about suicide. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s very important to have that knowledge, but I think the skills and the conversations you can have with people transfer far beyond just this topic.” As an example, she highlighted the importance of human connection. “If we can approach people with curiosity, I think that will lead to a better community.” Organizers hope those who attend the training will share what they have learned with others. “What we’re hoping to do is open up the floor to conversation, make it more natural and get as many people through here as we can,” Swanson added. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call or text 988, the Suicide Crisis Helpline, or contact the Mobile Crisis Centre immediately.
