ESTEVAN — For the second year, the Government of Saskatchewan is offering grants to community partners to support suicide prevention initiatives across the province.
In a news release issued May 1, the government said the Suicide Prevention Grant Program encourages community partners to develop creative ways to support suicide prevention, with a focus on increasing awareness of resources, reducing stigma, building capacity to mobilize community action, and enhancing training and skills development.
Total funding of $350,000 is available, the government said, with each successful applicant receiving up to $10,000.
“The tragic loss of one person to suicide is one person too many,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lori Carr said. “Addressing self-harm and suicide is a priority for our government. Through these grants, we are working together with partners to support the mental health of Saskatchewan residents.”
Carr noted during a May 1 press conference at Southeast Advocates in Estevan that last year the government committed $250,000 to the program, but due to the overwhelming demand, the government gave out $480,000 in grants.
“As applications come in, we’ll look at the demand and go from there,” said Carr.
The government press release notes applications will be accepted from groups such as community-based organizations, Indigenous communities, school divisions and municipalities.
According to the government, 53 groups received suicide prevention grants in 2025-26, including Southeast Advocates.
"This funding has allowed us to invest in critical suicide prevention training for our entire team," interim executive director Shannon Fodchuk said. "Through the Canadian Mental Health Association Weyburn branch, we are training our staff to recognize when someone may be struggling and respond in a meaningful, supportive way. As an organization serving vulnerable populations, this training is essential to ensuring we can provide safe, informed and compassionate support when it matters most."
The team at Southeast Advocates needs to feel confident and prepared to respond with somebody who might be struggling, Fodchuk said.
“Through this training, our team is learning how to recognize the signs that somebody may need support, or just as importantly, how to respond in a way that is safe, compassionate and meaningful.
"For us, it’s not just about training. It’s about strengthening the support we provide everyday. It ensures that when someone reaches out or shows signs of distress, we are ready to meet them with understanding and the right tools to help.”
Fodchuk said she knows the South East Cornerstone Public School Division and Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division also received a grant last year.
“It would be nice to spread the word and have more organizations apply for funding," she said.
Some of the 14 employees at Southeast Advocates have competed their training, Fodchuk said, and the rest will be finished by the end of June.
Carr believes having programs and awareness like these help to normalize the conversation for individuals, and they no longer have to struggle in silence.
The grant program is part of Pillars for Life: The Saskatchewan Suicide Prevention Plan. Released in 2020, the government said the document serves as a guide for government and partners to improve and expand suicide prevention efforts in the province.
Several other key provincial suicide prevention initiatives the government highlighted include:
- Funding the community-led Roots of Hope Suicide Prevention initiative in five northern Saskatchewan communities;
- Funding a provincial rapid access counselling for suicide loss support program through Family Service Saskatchewan, which supports the immediate psychological needs of families and friends of people who have died by suicide or survived with significant injury or trauma;
- Support of a family engagement group to gather feedback from families who have experienced suicide loss;
- Development and distribution of suicide prevention wallet cards;
- Contribute to the United Way Regina 211 Saskatchewan for the development of a resource hub for children and youths, and their caregivers, to focus on suicide prevention;
- Support for suicide prevention public awareness campaigns to inform individuals that help is available for people thinking of, or affected by, suicide; and
- Promotion of the national Suicide Crisis Helpline, 9-8-8.
This year, the government says Saskatchewan is spending a record $674 million in mental health and addictions, which includes $2.3 million specifically for suicide prevention initiatives.
For information on how to apply for a Suicide Prevention Grant, visit saskatchewan.ca/suicide-prevention-grant. Applications are due by July 3.
To learn about resources available on suicide prevention and mental health, visit saskatchewan.ca/suicide-prevention.
