PENTICTON – The Pen High Dry Grad Committee is helping the Canadian Mental Health Association provide suicide prevention training.

The Mental Health Association announced today it received a $1,000 donation from the dry grad committee, to be channelled into suicide prevention training within Penticton.

The donation is being made in the name of Penticton Secondary grad Isaiah Kozak, who passed away earlier this year.

The mental health association is encouraging people, especially those in positions of trust, such as first responders, community service providers, elders, spiritual leaders, coaches and teachers to sign up for suicide prevention training in an effort to possibly save lives.

The mental health association’s South Okanagan-Similkameen chapter will be holding two suicide awareness / prevention workshops in September.

The cost of the workshops has been reduced due to the funding provided by the dry grad’s donation.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of the Penticton Dry Grad Committee”,, Executive Director at the Canadian Mental Health Association's Leah Schulting, said.
“These funds will be used to support suicide prevention workshops in Penticton,” she added.

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Canadians aged 15 to 34, after motor vehicle accidents, and for every death it is estimated that there are as many as 20 attempts. These statistics are far too high but CMHA believes that suicide awareness and education can play a vital role in saving lives,” Schulting said.

A two day interactive workshop is planned for Sept. 6 to 7 at a cost of $175, and a half day program called Safetalk is planned for September 8 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The Safetalk program is designed to help participants recognize indications someone is thinking about suicide, and connect them to care providers and other support services.

To sign up for these workshops, or for more information, email Maggie at: cmha.mhadvocate@shaw.ca or by phone at 778-476-5411.

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