Draft Consultation Questions for NGOs

An Act Respecting a Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention

Preamble:

The Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention Act states that “a federal plan designed to disseminate information, promote the use of research, share best practices and affect public attitudes towards suicide and its prevention is in the interest of all Canadians”. Further, the Act (Section 2b) states that the Government of Canada must establish a federal framework for suicide prevention that assumes responsibility for six areas of work:

  1. providing guidelines to improve public awareness and knowledge about suicide;
  2. disseminating information about suicide, including information concerning its prevention;
  3. making publically available existing statistics about suicide and related risk factors;
  4. promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange across domains, sectors, regions and jurisdictions;
  5. defining best practices for the prevention of suicide; and
  6. promoting the use of research and evidence-based practices for the prevention of suicide.

The following questions will inquire about current efforts in Canada, best practices, mechanisms and models in promoting,sharing and disseminating information, and most importantly, the perspectives and experiences of representatives of federal, provincial, and territorial governments, non-governmental organizations, and concerned individuals.

Information obtained from these consultations will be presented as aggregate findings and any specific details will not be attributed to individuals or organizations without explicit consent. While recognizing time constraints of this discussion, please feel free to share as much detail as you see to be relevant to inform the development of the federal framework. An on-line component is in development to capture additionaldetails.

The Landscape:

  1. Please identifyyour organization’spriorities or main activitiesin relation to suicide prevention.
  1. Who is responsible for developing and/or leading these priorities or main activitieswithin your organization?
  • Whatare the key mechanisms of collaboration within your organization and with other organizations?
  1. To what extent does positive mental health/well-being factor into your organization’s approach to suicide prevention?

What Works & How:

  1. Are there particular approaches or guidelines that you have found helpful in enhancing public awareness and knowledge of suicide (S 2b.i)? If yes, please elaborate.
  1. In disseminating suicide prevention-related information including research (S 2b.ii), ormaking publically available existing statistics about suicide and its related risk factors (S 2b. iii), what methods/mechanismsdo you use to reach other sectors, the public and/or targeted groups?
  • What proportion of your organization’s work is related to disseminating suicide prevention-related information (2b.ii) and/or making publically available existing statistics about suicide and its related risk factors (2b.iii)?
  • What mechanisms would you highlight as particularly successful in reaching your audience(s)?
  • What challenges do you face in disseminating information about suicide prevention to the public?
  1. If applicable, to what extent is your organization active in the following three areas:

A) Promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange across domains, sectors, regions and jurisdictions(2b.iv);

B) Definingbest practices for the prevention of suicide (2b.v);

C) Leading or promoting the use of research and evidence-based practices (2b.vi) for the prevention of suicide?

  1. It is acknowledged that each organizationhas its own unique approach to suicide prevention that is reflective of itsrespective target populations, experiences and realities. Please identify any lessons learned and/or promising approaches or best practices in the following areas:

A) Promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange across domains, sectors, regions and jurisdictions(2b.iv);

B) Definingbest practices for the prevention of suicide (2b.v);

C) Promoting the use of research and evidence-based practices (2b.vi) for the prevention of suicide?

Moving Forward

  1. Do you have suggestions as to the most effective means that the federal government can use to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange across domains, sectors, regions and jurisdictions?
  1. It is known that certain factors, such as social stigma, play a role in impedingan open dialogue regarding suicide and in diminishing access to suicide prevention information, resources and activities. What other factors or barriers do you see as important considerations in advancing suicide prevention-relatedwork?

Thank You.

Thank you for your time and involvement in this consultation to inform the development of a federal framework for suicide prevention.

Throughout the summer and fall of 2013, we will be continuing our consultative process, including the development of an on-line component to gather further detailed information. Any further input and contributions you wish to share is welcomed.

Contacts:

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