A critical Lambton County committee that has been helping area residents for over 30 years is looking to the community and business partners for help.
The Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee, which is comprised of about 25 professional partners and a coordinator, recently lost its funding from the United Way. The funding supported the salary of the coordinator position, a role chairperson Liz Page says is crucial to the organization’s day-to-day operations.
“That position is the quarterback of our committee and the funding pays for Suzanne’s position [the coordinator position]. Since the United Way funding has been eliminated we are very aware that this position won’t continue to exist without some kind of significant investment, whether it be from community partners or corporate sponsor….we rely on the coordinator to really direct us on our efforts,” Page tells the Journal.
The Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee, since its inception, has been focused on the prevention and education of suicide.
“I think our committee keeps the conversation going, so we have world suicide prevention events and we try to create even visual awareness with yellow ribbons, really trying to keep the conversation going, because, as we know, suicide can be a taboo subject and folks often whisper the word and are afraid to have an open conversation about it,” says Page, adding the group is “really just trying to create connection across the community so people feel they can reach out if they are struggling.”
Suzanne McLean has been the coordinator since 2017 and it’s a job she does in addition to her full-time one. McLean says it was a no-brainer to apply for the coordinator position over six years ago based on her experiences and being able to provide resources to the community. McLean enjoys helping the committee in her role saying, “the coordinator helps do the administrative tasks so that the committee can make sure they are reaching everyone in the community that needs it.”
Page echoes that sentiment, saying someone like McLean keeps everything behind the scenes running smoothly.
“They really have their eye on the ball around, what did we say we are going to do, how are we going to do it and what does our timeline look like…I think without that person it would be really easy for things to slide and all of a sudden we are doing fewer safe talks and we are not as effective in the community,” says Page.
As for what community members can do to help the Sarnia Lambton Suicide Prevention Committee, Page says it’s as simple as using your voice.
“…People with lived experience who have maybe used the suicide loss support group or folks who have found our committee to be helpful, it would be lovely to hear from them about why it is important to them,” says Page. “The committee members can talk about why it's important, but I think the folks that it’s really reaching are the most effective voice for maybe those who might have the resources or the ability to step in and help…I think there will be a void if we aren’t able to do the work that we do.”
For more information, contact [email protected].