Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council

While we all play our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep our population physically healthy, the measures we are taking such as physical distancing, self-quarantine, and self-isolation may lead to new or heightened mental health concerns such as loneliness, anxiety, or depression. In a time where we are adjusting to new circumstances such as working from home, having our children home from school, and being unable to participate in group activities or team sports, ...it is important to be intentional and mindful about caring for your own wellness. At the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council, we want to do our part to support you as you support your own mental health, and support those within your household. We have compiled a list of locally developed information and tip sheets, as well as a list of local, provincial, and national support services that can be accessed virtually during this time:

It's Resource Thursday! With the current need to stay at home as much as possible, finding social activities can be difficult. Waterloo Library is offering Virtual Book Clubs for various ages starting in February. For more information and to register please visit https://buff.ly/3qxEjIs

We all have some form of inner strength. What is yours? Build upon your inner strength by building your Resilience & Protective factors: https://wrspc.ca/category/resilience-protective-factors/

Resource Thursday! "Taking care of our mental health, and discovering our own resilience is even more important now". Resource, information, and guidance on navigating COVID-19's impact on our wellness available through Here4Help by CMHA Waterloo Wellington at

#WellbeingAdventCalendar2020 Today, a reminder that one way to be gentle with yourself over the holidays is to eliminate pressures. We may feel enough pressure during normal times to host the perfect gathering, give the perfect gift, cook the perfect meal, or buy the perfect outfit. This year, just as the stressors we face may look different or be amplified, so might the pressures and expectations. We may feel pressure as we look to adapt traditions and routines to meet the p...ublic health guidelines we are following, or to find virtual ways to gather with friends and family. During these times of pressure and expectations, consider how these pressures can be eliminated and your own wellbeing can be prioritized. Particularly if you experience heightened negative emotions during the holidays or are experiencing this during the time of COVID-19, be gentle with yourself, eliminate pressures as much as possible, and find ways to slow down this season. wrspc.ca/dec20 See more

#WellbeingAdventCalendar2020 This month's issue of Mental Health Commission of Canada Commission de la santé mentale du Canada "Catalyst" newsletter included two articles titled "Giving the Gift of Self-Care" and "Making Spirits Bright" that touched on coping with and adapting to a different holiday season this year. Links to articles on our website wrspc.ca/dec19

Help us explore and understand gaps in Canadian youth suicide prevention research: fill out our survey to weigh in on and help strengthen Canada’s national suic...ide prevention research agenda! Aidez-nous à explorer et à comprendre les lacunes de la recherche sur la prévention du suicide chez les jeunes au Canada: remplissez notre sondage pour peser et contribuer à renforcer le programme national de recherche sur la prévention du suicide au Canada! Link (EN): https://t.co/c5T058jbaf?amp=1 Lien (FR): https://www.wisdom2action.org/ysp/ysp-fr/

#WellbeingAdventCalendar2020 The practice of mindfulness is often spoken of and has been researched as an effective practice for coping with stress, anxiety, or depression. Toronto's non-profit The Centre for Mindfulness Studies shares with us some suggestions for how mindfulness can be useful in the current times of uncertainty, and shares some practices you can try. New to mindfulness, or uncertain of what it is or involves? They also share an introduction to mindfulness. Links to these articles available on buff.ly/3ndJRGD

Resource Thursday! CMHA Waterloo Wellington is hosting may upcoming webinars (including some today!) on topics like Stress Management, Coping with Isolation and Loneliness, and Maintaining Good Mental Health. For details and to register, go to

The #COVID19 pandemic can be overwhelming for some people. It's important to know our team of counsellors and crisis responders are here for you 24/7. Call 1-800-668-6868 Young people text TALK to 686868 Adults text WELLNESS to 741741

Follow safe messaging guidelines when talking publicly about an experience with suicide, whether an attempt or a loss. Avoid detailed descriptions, blaming statements, and always speak to the complexity of suicide. https://buff.ly/36O22Mb #IDPISL #suicideloss #SOSL

#WellbeingAdventCalendar2020 #ResourceThursday This resource compiled by the Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health shares National and Provincial mental health support lines that provide seniors in Canada who may be feeling lonely or isolated with empathetic supportive listening or brief counselling. Find the organizations and phone numbers at https://buff.ly/343crmm

Thank you to everyone who participated in, fundraised for, or donated to our 11th Annual Bowl-a-Thon (Virtual Halloween edition)! We loved seeing your creative at-home bowling videos and great BowlaThon & Halloween costumes on Saturday, and are happy to announce today this year's major prize winners: Top Fundraising Team: "The Mini's" Top Individual Fundraisers: 1) Mya & Issac ("The Mini's"), 2) Kelly ("We're ALL Ears"), 3) Ava ("The Mini's") Best Costume: Weston & Sutter ("T...he Mini's"), for their amazing lego costumes - that even matched their lego bowling lane! Most Creative At-Home Bowling: Bianca ("We're ALL Ears"), for a great at-home Cosmic bowling party! See more

Resource Thursday! Here 24/7 is Waterloo Region's access point to mental health and addiction support, as well as providing 24 hour crisis support. If you are struggling, don't hesitate to call 1- 844-437-3247. To learn what to expect when you call, visit

A gentle reminder for us all. You are worthy of love and belonging - right now, as you are. Find a way to show yourself some this weekend. Not sure how? Explore our Self-care series and think about which aspect of self-care you could practice to show yourself love. https://wrspc.ca/life-promotion/self-care/

Today on Nov 21 is International Day for People Impacted by Suicide Loss. Today, we remember our lost loved ones and honour those impacted by loss. In recognition of this day, Centre for Suicide Prevention released new guidelines for sharing experiences with suicide for anyone thinking about publicly sharing their journey with suicide loss. You can find the guide here

Wow! Thank you to the organizers, sponsors, donors, participants, auction bidders, and anyone involved in this years Westmount Oktoberfest Charity Pro-Am presented by Raymond James. What an incredible way to continue and adapt this long-running tournament tradition and raise a truly incredible amount to support our work in Hope, Help, and Healing, as well as the work of Lutherwood in children's mental health.

WRSPC has compiled a list of locally developed information and tip sheets, as well as a list of local, provincial, and national support services that can be accessed virtually. For more information on maintaining Mental Wellness during Covid-19 go to https://buff.ly/2Ugy668

#WellbeingAdventCalendar2020 "Finding a way to stay socially connected during the pandemic is probably one of the best things we can do for our mental health". From Calgary's Centre for Suicide Prevention comes the third post in their "Hope, belonging, meaning and purpose: suicide prevention in times of crisis" blog series, titled "Maintaining relationships and social connection". This post explores why social connection is important, and how we can adapt to new forms of socialization in a time of physical distancing from those outside our immediate household. While adapting to these new ways of connection is a significant change, and change can be hard, CSP covers that in a previous blog post, "Change is hard: learning to adapt". Links to these articles on our website here https://wrspc.ca/dec16/

WRSPC ran a special print of our 'Blue Cards' - our adult resource cards that includes information on remotely-accessible resources you can access now. Take a look here at the many crisis resources available to adults in our Region and beyond. #WRSPCVirtualBowlathon

Two years ago today, we launched Crisis Text Line powered by Kids Help Phone nationally. Since then we’ve had over 300,000 conversations. It doesn’t matter the ...time of the day, our team is always here for you. Big thanks to Canada Health Infoway for collaborating with us to bring this service to Canada!

Resource Thursday! Here is Self Help and Peer Support's November calendar, with their continued virtual peer groups. Also available on their website here: https://cmhawwselfhelp.ca/events/

Welcome to our 11th Annual Bowl-a-thon: Virtual Halloween Edition! Thank you to all registered participants who fundraised to support our adapted event, and to the businesses and organizations who contributed to it's success by donating prizes. We look forward to seeing your creativity in your Bowl-a-Thon / Halloween costumes and your at-home bowling videos throughout the day.

As part of the WRSPC Virtual Bowl-a-thon we will be sharing community resources and supports throughout the day. At the WRSPC we want to do our part to support mental health and well being in our community, and promote resources that can support you and those around you. We all have a part to play in suicide prevention. If you or someone you know is struggling please reach out for help and call HERE/24 at 884-437-3247 #WRSPCVirtualBowlathon

Here are some great costumes from the WRSPC Mini's Team! Join the fun and share your costume! #WRSPCVirtualBowlathon

Happy Halloween! WRSPC is looking forward to seeing everyone's costumes and creative bowling alleys for the WRSPC Virtual Bowl-a-thon!! Tune into https://buff.ly/31UU2XS at 1:00 p.m. for the Opening Ceremony!!! #WRSPCVirtualBowlathon

One more day until the WRSPC Virtual Bowl-a-thon!!! Tune in to Facebook at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow for the opening ceremony, and remember to share your costumes, and creative bowling alleys throughout the day on social media using #WRSPCVirtualBowlathon. There will be a prize for best costume and most creative bowling alley! Winners will be announced on Monday November 2nd! https://buff.ly/2TFGLOq

It's Resource Thursday! Did you know that KW Counselling Offers Video Counselling? Their services can assist with: *Personal or Job Stress *Relationship Issues *Alcohol and Drug Use... *Anger Management *Trauma Grief and Loss *Parenting *Balancing Work and Family *Sexual Abuse (men and women) *Financial Issues *Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ2+) issues *Anxiety and Depression *Woman Abuse/Intimate Partner Violence or Domestic Violence *Adjusting to Life in Canada For more information go to

JOIN US on Saturday, October 31 at 1pm for our virtual ceremony. Welcome to our 11th Annual Bowl-a-thon: Virtual Halloween Edition! Thank you to all registered participants who fundraised to support our adapted event, and to the businesses and organizations who contributed to it's success by donating prizes. We look forward to seeing your creativity in your Bowl-a-Thon / Halloween costumes and your at-home bowling videos throughout the day.

Only 5 days left until the WRSPC Virtual Bowlathon! Will you be sharing your costume or creative bowling alley on social media? Join @WRSPC on Oct. 31st @ 1:00pm as we share a virtual update on the event via our Facebook page https://buff.ly/33GZmiZ #WRSPCVirtualBowlathon

We're fortunate to have Here 24/7 by Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington available in our region. If you're struggling, we hope you'll reach out.

Are you in need of some costume inspiration for the WRSPC Virtual Bowl-a-thon taking place on Halloween? Check out these amazing costumes from past Bowl-a-thons! There will be a prize for best costume! #WRSPCVirtualBowlathon

It's Resource Thursday! Do you know about protective factors for suicide? These are characteristics or conditions that may help to decrease a person’s suicide risk. While these factors do not eliminate the possibility of suicide, especially in someone with risk factors, they may help to reduce that risk. Learn more here