Journey To Hope

Supporting Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Hope, Healing, Honoring

ABOUT US

Journey to Hope is made up of individuals in the community of Moose Jaw, SK and surrounding areas who are members of the Survivors of Suicide Support Group or have been affected by a loss through suicide.  Through our grief, we have come to realize the impact that suicide has in our lives and within our community and feel the need to do our part to make a difference.

Suicide happens so often, yet no one seems to be talking about it because of the stigma that is attached to it.  Those who haven't been directly affected by it don't want to hear about it.  Those who have attempted suicide may be scared to talk about it.  Others may be feeling suicidal and believe nothing can help.  And, tragically others are the ones left behind to pick up the pieces.

Our feeling is that there must be great resources out there to help.  But, what are they?  How does a person who is feeling suicidal seek help in our community?  As a group, we feel it would be extremely beneficial to our community to strive towards raising awareness to the devestation of suicide.

We want to bring awareness so that maybe, one person's heart can be saved from breaking.  We want to do it to hopefully help save a life.  We would also like to make tributes to those that have unfortunately left us.  We want to do it to help survivors like ourselves.

The Journey to Hope will raise vital funds which we very strongly feel should be allocated locally.  Funds raised from this event will be used in the following possible ways:

• To support the ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and SAFETALK Suicide Prevention and Intervention Programs so they are even more accessible to people in our community and to students in our schools.
• Implementing the Yellow Ribbon Campaign.
• Forming a Suicide Crisis Hot Line.
• Providing resource materials for the community.
• Creating publicity highlighting the community resources available for those in crisis/at risk.

Donations are Welcome:  If you would like to support us in our mission to promote suicide awareness and prevention please click here

Journey to Hope is a fundraising walk supporting suicide awareness and prevention.

The purpose of this walk is: 

HOPE to those who feel hopeless by sharing resiliency information and counselling resources.

HEALING to the bereaved by offering grief information and support resources.

HONORING the memory of those who have completed suicide by reaching out to the hopeless and hurting.

OUR SUCCESS & CONTRIBUTIONS

Journey To Hope 2008 saw participants raise $8,000.00

In 2009 we were very successful in raising $10,000.00

In 2010 fundraisers raised $6600.00

These funds are being used to provide suicide awareness and prevention information for the community of Moose Jaw, SK and beyond.

Funds raised have provided corricula for counsellors, "Warning Signs" information cards for youth, suicide awareness and prevention resources for teachers, and have supported suicide awareness training in various schools and colleges.

In 2010 alone funds raised purchased:

•  Tattered Teddies Workbooks and More Than Sad DVD Packages for School Counsellors in Prairie South & Holy Trinity School Divisions.
• Sponsored Tattered Teddies training for Prairie South School Division Counsellors as well as numerous other participants.
• Sponsored Safe Talk training for numerous individuals.
• Donated $2000.00 to Canadian Mental Health Association to support their Friends for Life Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program.
• Purchased the DVD packet "The Truth About Suicide" for SIAST Palliser Campus in Moose Jaw.
2010 also saw us accomplishing our vision of distributing a widespread publication sighting suicide awareness and prevention along with community resources to 18000 homes in Moose Jaw and community.  This publication was an insert in the Moose Jaw Times Herald called "Journey To Hope"

THIS WALK IS ALL ABOUT RAISING HOPE FOR THE HURTING

 Personalize your footwear and creatively express your support for Journey to Hope and the Awareness and Prevention of Suicide!

For $2.00 you can purchase a yellow ribbon or butterfly charm for your shoes (fits "Croc", "Airwalk", "Sketchers" or other clog type shoes)

The Warning Signs of Suicide

Here is an easy to remember mnemonic

IS PATH WARM

I Ideation

S Substance Abuse

P Purposelessness

A Anxiety

T Trapped

H Hopelessness

W Withdrawal

A Anger

R Recklessness

M Mood Change

A person in acute risk for suicidal behavior most often will show:Warning Signs of Acute Risk: • Threatening to hurt or kill him or herself, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself; and/or, • Looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means; and/or, • Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary.These might be remembered as expressed or communicated IDEATION. If observed, seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for a referral.

Additional Warning Signs: Increased SUBSTANCE (alcohol or drug) use No reason for living; no sense of PURPOSE in life ANXIETY, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time Feeling TRAPPED - like there’s no way out HOPELESSNESS WITHDRAWING from friends, family and society Rage, uncontrolled ANGER, seeking revenge Acting RECKLESS or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking Dramatic MOOD changesIf observed, seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for a referral.

 A SUICIDE ATTEMPT IS MADE EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY 

Small steps can make big strides in supporting the awareness and prevention of suicide.

Join our team  Walk Volunteer   Donate