2019-2020 GII Challenge: Youth Suicide Prevention for the hard-t0-reach
Overview
“Every single life lost to suicide is one too many. The way forward is to act together, and the time to act is now. I call upon all stakeholders to make suicide prevention an imperative.” — Dr. Margaret Cho, Director-General World Health Organization
This year the Global Ideas Institute (GII) challenge focuses on the issue of Mental Health & Well-Being: Youth Suicide Prevention for the Hard-to-Reach in Canada. For health care practitioners, policymakers, institutions and community organizations, the importance of mental health towards individual well-being has increased in recent years. In Canada, 1 in 5 individuals is expected to experience challenges with mental health or mental illness.1 In order to holistically understand the issue of youth suicide prevention in Canada, it is also important to understand the global context of this challenge. Globally, the number of people dealing with mental health challenges is 970 million.2 This has led to policy responses both domestically and internationally. The World Health Organization has developed its Mental Health Gap Action Programme Toolkit to provide policymakers with strategies for promoting mental health and wellness in their respective communities. In 2018, the Canadian government co-founded the Alliance of Champions for Mental Health and Wellbeing with other national governments to coordinate on the advancement of global mental health.
One of the major challenges related to mental health and wellness is suicide prevention. Internationally, close to 800 000 people die by suicide every year.3 In both Canada and around the globe, suicide is also a major challenge affecting young people, as it is the leading health-related cause of death for people aged 15-29.4 It is also one of the leading causes of preventable death globally. As such, it becomes important to ask how leaders and change-makers in local and global communities can act to prevent suicide and improve the safety and well-being of those around them.
The GII challenges participants to develop innovative approaches to this challenge. GII students are encouraged to look at what governments, businesses and individuals can achieve in order to help prevent suicide and improve community mental health and well-being. Students are encouraged to develop innovative technical, policy, education and/or socioeconomic interventions to tackle issues related to suicide prevention and mental health and well being. A range of experts, world-leading research, and detailed case studies will be provided to inform participants’ thinking about this topic throughout the GII program year.