President Lampe’s message for World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day Message from President Johannes Lampe World Suicide Prevention Day is an opportunity for all of us, from all walks of life, to come together to show support, promote an understanding and to raise awareness about prevention activities and initiatives.

Many of us have been touched by suicide in one way or another.

August 9, 2008 is a day that will forever be etched in my mind. That was the day my son took his life.

I still keep asking myself what I could have done to save him, and wondered why he did what he did.

Over time, I learned to accept that I cannot change the past, and that I have to find a way to carry on with my life – one day at a time. I received a lot of support along the way, from family and friends, from my community and from others who have been impacted by suicide.

The theme of this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day, Working Together to Prevent Suicide, is most appropriate, because by supporting each other, by working together, and by raising awareness, we find strength within ourselves – the strength that helps us carry on.

The Nunatsiavut Government has worked very hard over the years to raise awareness of mental health issues.

We continue to provide many prevention, intervention and post-intervention programs, and we work closely with other governments, agencies organizations and groups in dealing with this issue.

As we recognize this day, it is important to remember that life is to be celebrated. I encourage all Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement to come together as one, to support each other, to raise awareness and understanding, and to work together to improve the mental wellness of all of our people and communities.