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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1985, PAGE 23 Distress Centre holds suicide prevention forum By WENDY ROY The mayors of Durham Region have declared this week as Suicide Prevention Week. Some suicides could be prevented if more people could recognize the signs of suicidai behaviour and knew what to do to help the suicidal person. Talking about suicide, eating disorders, weight gain or loss, sleeping The Ontario Provin- cial Police are seeking the help of parents and teachers to reduce the number of accidents in- volving teenagers drinking and driving af- ter end-of-term celebrations over the next couple of inonths. By ANGELA TIBBLES Durham Region Lung Association will run its smoking cessation program "Countdown" in Oshawa, starting Monday, May 27. The nine session cour- se will be held in the Michael Starr Building (Ministry of Revenue), 33 King St. W., on Mon- day and Wednesday evenings from7:30 p.m. disorders, nightmares, restlessness, low tolerance, recklessness, argumentativeness, de- pression and a sense of hopelessness and despair can be signals that someone is feeling suicidal. A sudden change in behaviour is another sign. These symptons can be triggered by a crisis such as a death, the loss of a relationship, divor- Graduations, school dances and field parties are just around the cor- ner. The OPP wants to convince the partygoers that drinking and driving can cause sen- seless death and injury. The provincial police are concerned with a A $50 registration fee is payable in advance, and covers all costs in- cluding permanently bound course reference materials, counselling at sessions, maintenan- ce manual and a relaxation tape. All sessions are held in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere Countdown offers two programs i one - a ce, unemployment or any traumatic event. The presence of many of these means increased risk for the troubled person. What can be done to help? Caring people who are willing to listen and take action when a cry for help is given can make all the difference. Asking the person if they are feeling suicidal puts the issue on the wide variety of traffic safety problems, but prevention of impaired driving is a priority item because this per- sistent social problem brings on untold human suffering and a tremen- dous financial cost to society. group program and a self-help program. The course is designed to not only help smokers suc- cessfully "kick the habit", but to also teach new behaviours which ensure the ex-smoker can maintain a non- smoking lifestyle. Course members have only five weeks in which to break a lifetime ad- diction. However, the friendly competition table and assures the person that you are willing and able to un- derstand. Encourage the person to .talk about the cir- cumstances and help them to find some small, positive steps that can be taken to change the situation. Being emotionally supportive allows the suicidal person to feel secure and safe. En- During 1985, Inter- national Youth Year, it is the special objective of the OPP to have the young people of our province experience the safest motoring possible this spring and summer. To accomplish this ob- jective, OPP Com- missioner Archie and genuine support of fellow group members, coupled with professional direction from a Lung Association course leader has proved to be a winning combination. Most recent statistics show that, in a one year period, 30,000 Canadians died as a result of smoking related diseases. For the smoker who really wan- courage them to seek professional help. Assess the risk. The more specific the person, the higher the risk of suicide. Ask, "Have you ever thought of how you might take your life?" If the person is vague as to means, there is less risk than if the person has pills or a gun. In a high risk situation, be ready to get someone to help you Ferguson is asking for a cooperative and concen- trated effort by parents, educators and law en- forcement officers to help our young people truly understand the perils of drinking and driving. While police officers have a definite role in ts to be free of cigaret- tes, Countdown can be the answer. Pre-registration is required, and enrollment is strictly limited. For more in- formation, call Durham Region Lung Association at 723-3151. EDITOR'S NOTE: Angela Tibbles is the executive director of the Durham Region Lung Association. n getting poison control information, or in calling an ambulance. Be as emotionally close as possible and encourage the person to get help. Suicidal people are ambivalent. We can help them want to live by trying to understand how painful life is for them and showing them that we care about them. Being cared about is a positive life enforcing anti-drinking and driving laws, educators can con- tribute by encouraging discussion on the sub- ject of drinking and driving as part of the graduation prepara- tions. Parents can use their influence to en- courage their children to exert pressure on their peers. The glamour and ex- citement wrongfully associated with alcohol consumption and driving has to be removed. Ferguson said, "OPP officers will do their part through their ongoing vehicle spot check program, making a special effort to deter our youth from drinking and driving. With parents and teachers sharing the respon- sibility, we'll save lives and stop accidents." support for all of us. If someone has initiated a suicide press the person to accept help. An ambulance can be sent. Hospital emergency rooms are 99 per cent effective in saving people who arrive, even if severely overdosed. If it is a telephone call where the person is drugged and vague, trace the call if at all possible. The suicidai person's call or contact with someone in these circumstances is adequate permission to take charge. While you are pushing for action, continue to be as emotionally sup- portive, caring and sen- sitive as possible. The Distress Centre of Durham Region is holding a public forum on Suicide Prevention at Ajax High School this Saturday. Admission is free, everyone is welcome. Come out and learn more about this important - subject. Three plays will be per- formed, followed by discussion. It promises to be an entertaining and informative evening. The Distress Centre will be providing for self-help groups for suicidal people this fall. For more information call 686-2366. EDITOR'S NOTE: Wendy Roy is an outreach worker with the Durham Region Distress Centre. 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