Suicide Awareness Month Community Walk

The Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor-Essex County Branch (CMHA-WECB), in partnership with community organizations, leads an annual Suicide Awareness Month campaign every September to promote mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and life promotion. Throughout the month, individuals across Windsor-Essex can participate in educational opportunities, training sessions, community activities, and fundraising events designed to increase understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage people to seek support.

The Suicide Awareness Month planning group brings together representatives from a wide range of sectors, including workplaces, health services, police and emergency services, community organizations, school boards, and post-secondary institutions. One of the campaign’s key events is a community walk hosted by CMHA-WECB and its partners, bringing people together in support, in strength, and in memory of those who have died by suicide. Participants can choose between 2-kilometre and 5-kilometre routes, with three locations available in Windsor, Belle River, and Leamington.

The importance of Suicide Awareness Month is highlighted by the continued impact of suicide in communities across Canada and around the world. According to the World Health Organization, a person dies by suicide somewhere in the world approximately every 40 seconds. Suicide is also the second leading cause of death among Canadians under the age of 25. In Windsor-Essex County, more than 40 residents died by suicide in 2011, while 2015 saw a nine-year high in self-harm emergency department visits.

The highest suicide rate in the region was among adults aged 45 to 64, with men accounting for a significantly higher proportion of suicide deaths. These statistics demonstrate why awareness, prevention, education, and community support remain essential, especially because suicide is preventable.