10 September 2025 marks World Suicide Prevention Day and PSP Borden’s Health Promotion team hosted a Suicide Awareness Day event at Trinity Chapel with a program dedicated to reflection, education and community connection.
Health Promotion Specialist Nathaniel Smith, who emceed the event, reminded attendees of the importance of World Suicide Prevention Day as an opportunity to remember lives lost to suicide, support those impacted by it, and strengthen community.
The date of observance is observed globally each year on 10 September. This year’s theme, Changing the Narrative on Suicide, guided the event’s activities and discussions.
“Research shows that most people have been or will be impacted by suicide at some point in their lives,” Smith told attendees. “One of the number one causes of suicide is untreated depression, and the biggest reason people don’t seek help is because of the stigma. We can change this narrative. We can break down the stigma.”
Smith emphasized the power of open dialogue, promoting resources, and treating others with dignity and respect. He encouraged participants to take what they learned and actively apply it in their daily lives.
To help attendees engage with the theme in meaningful ways, the Health Promotion team organized a variety of stations both inside and outside the Chapel including:
- Labyrinth Walk – A guided reflection activity through a labyrinth beside Trinity Chapel
- Peaceful Colouring – A creativity-based mindfulness exercise
- Meditation & Visualization – A station using yoga mats and meditation to promote calm and inner focus
- Resiliency Table – An opportunity to explore practical strategies for building resilience
- Prayer Space inside Trinity Chapel – A quiet area inside for individual reflection or spiritual practice
Members were encouraged to visit each station over the hour-long program, gaining tools and strategies to help foster openness, compassion and resilience in the wider Borden community.
“We all have a part in breaking down the stigma and changing the narrative,” Smith concluded. “Together, we can build a stronger and more supportive community.”
