Pillars for Life: Saskatchewan’s Suicide Prevention Plan

The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to addressing the rates of suicide in the province. Pillars for Life: The Saskatchewan Suicide Prevention Plan was created to guide suicide prevention initiatives and activities specific to the cultural and social landscape of Saskatchewan.

The Pillars for Life plan aligns with Saskatchewan's Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan and is an important step forward in reducing the province's suicide rates and in building strength, resilience and hope in Saskatchewan people.

Background

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) developed Roots of Hope, a community-based suicide prevention model. Roots of Hope provides a framework and structure for communities to tailor suicide prevention activities and link these activities to community needs and strengths. The actions outlined in Pillars for Life: The Saskatchewan Suicide Prevention Plan are grounded in the five pillar approach developed by the MHCC.

Roots of Hope Meadow Lake Facebook Page
Roots of Hope La Ronge Facebook Page

The five pillars of the Saskatchewan Pillars for Life plan include:

Specialized supports;
Training
Awareness
Means restriction and means safety
Research, surveillance and evaluation

The Government of Saskatchewan is dedicated to supporting actions under each pillar. Highlights include:

Specialized Supports

Community of Practice - Canadian Mental Health Association-Saskatchewan Division is operating a community of practice network to support suicide prevention. For more information, visit CMHA Saskatchewan Division.
Land based camps - The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) has developed and delivered camps for youth.

Training

Mindset media training - The Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma have hosted virtual sessions pertaining to the Mindset: Reporting on Mental Health guide. This guide was created by the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, and is about sensitive and responsible reporting pertaining to suicide and mental health. For more information, visit Mindset: Reporting on Mental Health.
Suicide prevention trainings - LivingWorks provides evidence-based suicide prevention training for individuals and organizations. For more information, visit LivingWorks.

Awareness

Public awareness campaign - This has been targeted to males ages 35-40 years in labour industries/rural area/and farming communities; and Indigenous males and females.
Suicide prevention framework and prevention, intervention and postvention toolkit - For more information, visit Suicide prevention - University of Saskatchewan. This toolkit is available at post-secondary institutions across the province.
Public awareness of the Operational Stress Injury/Post Traumatic Stress Support Initiative (OSI-CAN) program - This is a community-based peer support initiative for First Responders and their families, available through a partnership between the Canadian Mental Health Association- Saskatchewan Division (CMHA) and The Royal Canadian Legion (Saskatchewan Command). For more information, visit CMHA Saskatchewan Division or Finding PTSD Mental Health Supports.

Means Restriction and Means Safety

Safe Medication Disposal Initiative - The Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan launched this program in 2022-23.

Research, Surveillance and Evaluation

Reporting on progress and activities - To align with An Act respecting a Provincial Strategy for Suicide Prevention, the Ministry of Health includes this information in its annual report.