Suicide.
It’s a conversation we’ve been conditioned to avoid. It’s not something we’re suppose to talk about or even acknowledge, yet it affects all of us and is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age.
That lesson was brought home again this week after a volunteer firefighter made the ultimate choice to take his own life.
In a community as tight-knit as Jasper it’s a difficult conversation to have, but it needs to be had because the stark reality is that we’ve lost too many people this way.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, suicide accounts for 24 per cent of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16 per cent among 25-44 year olds. The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women and suicide is among the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians, second only to accidents.
When you consider how young Jasper’s population is this should be a wake-up call.
Compounding the issue is the fact that we live in a remote, tourism-based economy.
A recent story published by National Geographic found that the rate of suicide for resort towns in the United States is many times higher than the national average.
According to the story, in Aspen, Colo., the suicide rate is three times the country’s mean rate. In Utah’s Salt Lake County, home to Alta and Snowbird ski resorts, the suicide rate is almost twice the national average.
So what’s going on and how can we stop it?
Experts are not sure exactly why tourism towns seem to have a higher suicide rate but point to a host of factors, including a culture of rugged individualism, a lack of mental health care, and the isolation that comes from living in the mountains.
While many of these factors likely play a role, in Jasper, like so many tourism-based towns, there are also social, financial and cultural factors that can’t be ignored.
As we know Jasper’s economy is seasonal, placing an enormous amount of financial pressures on individuals, families, and relationships. Adding to the pressure, towns like Jasper are expensive and the disparity between the wealthy and the working class is dramatic and often forces people to work several jobs and live in cramped conditions.
On top of that, due to the transient nature of tourism-based communities, their social makeup is often more tenuous, creating shallow relationships that often lack deep social attachments.
Fortunately there are solutions, right here in Jasper.
In the spring, the community established the Mental Health Awareness Committee and launched a two-week long campaign to raise awareness and open up the community to year-round discussions about mental health.
Community Outreach Services (COS) is another resource. With six outreach workers someone is always available to talk. The COS building is located at 627 Patricia Street. People can also call 780-852-2100.
The Seaton Jasper Healthcare Centre also offers mental health services and can be reached at 780-852-6640 or at 1-877-303-2642 (24 hour help line).
Provincially, people can call the Distress Centre’s crisis line 24 hours a day seven days a week at 403-266- 4357.
While these resources are clearly needed the first step to end the stigma around mental health and suicide begins by talking about it.
