OUTLOOK — Saskatchewan's suicide rate ranks above the national average, and the numbers tell a harrowing story. The province set a new high mark for suicides in one calendar year in 2022 with 243, topping the previous record of 241 set in 2018.
In 2023, the Saskatchewan Coroners Service released a report aiming to shed more light on suicides in the province, highlighting hard numbers on a topic that is often avoided publicly due to shame and stigma. The report examined the 864 confirmed suicides from 2018 to 2021.
It found that Saskatchewan’s suicide rate per 100,000 people trends well above the national rate. Of the four years studied, this divide was largest in 2018 when Saskatchewan’s rate was 20.6 and the national rate was 12.3. That gap narrowed to 16.6 (Saskatchewan) and 10.9 (national) in 2020. But the chasm grew again to 17.5 and 9.9 in 2021.
Canada has a growing problem with suicide. Information released in 2023 showed that approximately 12 people die by suicide each day in this country, amounting to roughly 4,500 self-inflicted deaths per year.
Suicide rates were found to be approximately three times higher in Canadian men compared to women, and it was found to be the second-leading cause of death among youth and young adults aged 15 to 34.
Among those who suffering from thoughts of suicide, or those who unfortunately follow through on such an act, some of the highest groups of people are First Nations youth, transgender, two-spirit and non-binary people, gay, lesbian and sexually diverse people, emergency first responders, veterans who served their country, and those with alcohol and substance addictions.
It's important to note that having a particular identity or background does not mean that people will experience suicidal thoughts, or attempt suicide. However, marginalization, discrimination, oppression and lack of support are risk factors, and people can have suicidal thoughts because of the way they are treated by others, not because of who they are.
It can become a time-consuming and emotional war in working with people who may be suffering from such thoughts. The key to helping them see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is making them understand that there are those who'll be directly affected by their actions.
"The thing about suicide is that it can be such a battle to bring people back from that brink," said Heather Whyte, a counsellor who works with at-risk people in Saskatoon. "They have to know that they still matter to friends, family members and so many other people. That's what I find myself saying on a pretty consistent basis, 'You still matter.' Sometimes, that can be something that someone needs to hear. Other times, the problems can go much deeper than that. I would have to say that if there's one glaring thing that people in my line of work have to do with at-risk people, it's to make that one connection and do our best to build from there."
Lifelines are available for those who may be suffering mentally and emotionally, including the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline. People can call or text 988 at any time of the day, with the helpline stating that it's a safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
"The 988 crisis line is an incredible outlet for people who might be having these kind of thoughts," said Whyte. "It can be a real lifeline for those who don't know where to turn at first. The work that they do should be commended."
The public can learn more about how the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline can assist them by visiting its official website.
