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CMHA PEI holding inaugural Bench Placement Ceremony in honour of World Suicide Prevention Day
Sep 10th, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2024
CMHA PEI holding inaugural Bench Placement Ceremony in honour of World Suicide Prevention Day – September 10 Cavendish, PEI—Today, the Canadian Mental Health Association PEI Division (CMHA PEI) is holding an inaugural “Bench Placement Ceremony” on World Suicide Prevention Day, a day recognized each year internationally on September 10 to promote understanding about suicide and those impacted by a suicide attempt or loss.
The private ceremony is being held at the site of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Cavendish Home. L.M. Montgomery came to live here as a child with her maternal grandparents from 1876-1911 and it is where she wrote many of her books including, Anne of Green Gables. This year marks the 150th birthday celebration of L.M. Montgomery. The Bench Placement Ceremony is in honour of her and those we’ve lost to suicide, those who are still here, and in support of their loved ones. The bench will be erected on-site under a tree where Lucy Maud wrote many books and there will also be a commemorative plaque attached to the bench in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day.
It is CMHA PEI’s hope that going forward each year on World Suicide Prevention Day, a bench and plaque will be placed in a different community across the Island with the event being open to the public so that community members can be part of the ceremony as well.
CMHA’s Executive Director, Shelley Muzika, says, “World Suicide Prevention Day is an opportunity to talk about life promotion and the continued importance of education and awareness in reducing stigma around suicide. We hope that this bench we have put here today will represent a place to rest, heal and reflect and to join others in committing to better mental health for all.”
Muzika added that CMHA would like to acknowledge the participation of several people and groups that have assisted with this inaugural event. “We want to say a special thank you to Kate Macdonald-Butler, granddaughter of Lucy Maud Montgomery, Dr. Kate Scarth and Dr. Philip Smith of the Lucy Maud Montgomery Institute and David MacNeill and the heirs of the MacNeill homestead in Cavendish where Lucy was raised and began her writing.”
CMHA PEI will be posting photos and highlights from today’s ceremony on their website at www.pei.cmha.ca as well as on their social media channels.
For more information on World Suicide Prevention Day please visit the Canadian Association for Suicide
Prevention (CASP) website: www.suicideprevention.ca
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BACKGROUND
Canadian Mental Health Association
Each year 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness or mental health issue, but 5 in 5 Canadians have mental health – we all need to have access to mental health care.
The Canadian Mental Health Association – PEI is one of ten provincial divisions of Canada’s first and only truly national mental health organization. Specialized services and supports are delivered in, and tailored to, the community and its mental health needs. CMHA-PEI exists to promote the mental health of all persons on the Island by working with individuals, groups, and communities to increase control over and enhance their mental health. CMHA also provides advocacy, programs and resources that help to prevent mental health problems and illnesses and support recovery and resilience. For more information visit their website: www.pei.cmha.ca
World Suicide Prevention Day
World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an annual awareness and advocacy day established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Since its establishment in 2003, World Suicide Prevention Day has grown into a global movement, uniting people worldwide in a common cause – to prevent suicide. For the last 21 years, it has been successful in raising awareness about the issue, reducing stigma, and encouraging action to prevent suicide and suicidal behaviour. Each year hundreds of events are held worldwide aimed at reaching national organizations, governments, and the public.
Media Contact/ Interview Requests:
Lori Morris
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Mental Health Association PEI Division
902-393-6416