Efforts are underway in the Stettler area to increase awareness on the issue of suicides with several meeting being held since the summer of 2009 involving community agencies and residents.
A press release issued by the Stettler Suicide Awareness Committee says
“Although suicide is little talked about, it does occur at rates which may surprise you. In 2007, suicides totalled 462 in Alberta with 54 of them occurring in the former David Thompson Health Region which included Stettler and area. This rate is third highest of the nine regions in the province.”
The committee urges citizens to be watchful for signs coming from depressed individuals speaking of hopelessness, death.
For further information on how to prevent suicides, phone Sergeant Rowland Schmidt of RCMP at 403-742-3382 or Patricia Hamilton of Heartland Victim Services Unit at 403-741-7841.