Of the statistics revealed in the results of Communities That Care (CTC) Whistler’s 2021 Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, one was particularly concerning.
Of the 568 local Grades 6 through 12 students who CTC Whistler polled in May 2021, there were 100—or roughly 18 per cent of those polled—who said they had seriously considered attempting suicide within the last 12 months.
With that statistic in mind, the Resort Municipality of Whistler's (RMOW) Youth Centre is offering Whistler's younger residents some important tools to help them look out for each other.
The Youth Centre is offering free suicide alertness training for 15- to 18-year-olds this Friday, Oct. 21 from 1 to 5:30 p.m.
The four hour workshop will teach participants about the safeTALK steps, including how to recognize when friends and others are experiencing thoughts of suicide, how to talk about those thoughts with friends and what to do next.
The training session will also shed light on a range of other resources and important skills to help Whistler's youth keep themselves and their friends safe. Another highlight? Free pizza courtesy of Whistler's Functional Pie.
There is limited space and registration is required to attend, so call 604-935-8187 or email [email protected] for more information.
Whistler's Youth Centre is located downstairs in the Maury Young Arts Centre, located at 4335 Blackcomb Way. The space is free and open to teens (both local and visiting) to drop by to have fun, relax or connect with their peers. It's open 3:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, 3:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays (except for this week, Oct. 21, when it will be open for drop-ins from 5:30 to 8:40) and Saturdays 3:30 to 10 p.m.
