Suicide is the leading cause of injury deaths in Edmonton and advocates want that to change.
Nadeen LaBoucane knows the statistic all too well. She’s been a paramedic for two decades – but spent the last five years as an EMS dispatcher.
“I’ve had to tell too many people how to cut their loved ones down from hanging,” she told the community and public services committee Monday.
In the course of her job, LaBoucane has taken as many as five suicide calls in one day.
“I’ve stayed on the line with a distraught caller, developed a rapport with someone, only to have them put the gun to their head and pull the trigger – which left my ears ringing all night.”
Five years into the job, the mental anguish wore her down.
“February of this year I drove myself to a remote location in Sherwood Park and intentionally overdosed on prescribed medication. I was found unconscious and barely breathing in my vehicle,” LaBoucane told the crowd.
But she survived. RCMP members shattered the glass on her car window and were able to resuscitate her. She spent the next two weeks recovering in hospital. Now, she wants to make sure others survive too.
“I know, firsthand, how that despair feels. And I just don’t want anybody else to head down that road,” LaBoucane said.
In 2013, 165 people in the greater Edmonton area took their own lives. That’s two times as many as the number of people that die in car crashes.
The majority of people who die by suicide are middle aged men and 90 per cent have mental health issues.
A proposed suicide prevention strategy in Edmonton is aiming to correct that.
The goal is to unite organizations in providing services, awareness and education about positive mental health to eliminate suicide in our city.
The strategy, if implemented, could do things like make sure resources are available in all languages and make them easier for the public to access.
“It’s an exciting day for Edmonton,” councillor Bev Esslinger said. “Because we’re done talking and we’re doing something.”
The councillor has a personal connection to the cause. Her brother died by suicide.
“It impacted by family, my siblings. Everybody struggled with it and I think you’ll always wish you had said something.”
The committee endorsed the strategy, which means it will be presented to council next week.
“I feel encouraged and I can’t wait to see how it’s going to play out,” LaBoucane said.
The province supported the move.
“We need to make sure that we’re working in partnership to not just make life better down the road, but to work with our local leaders to make it better today, so I’m really glad that the city of Edmonton is taking steps in that direction,” Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman said.
Alberta Health Services said prevention is something it cannot tackle alone.
“There’s a role in this strategy for municipalities, for other ministries in government,” Mark Snaterse, director of addictions and mental health, said. “For other providers in government, schools, the corporate world, community providers, so it really is a broad community strategy that bring all of those partners together towards a common goal.”
Advocates like LaBoucane say reducing the stigma around suicide is key to the strategy.
“I’ve seen that deep, dark place with no hope. If we can prevent one more person from ending their life, we’re doing something right.”
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