I thank you for that question, because I think it's a critically important one.
In regard to the way in which the Mental Health Commission and others have approached the conversation about suicide, I would quote Harold Albrecht. I think he has stated that the approach of not talking about suicide isn't working. So we need to start talking about suicide. But we need to do that thoughtfully, because you raise some very important points about where the conversation can go if it's not done carefully and thoughtfully.
The national mental health strategy exists. We do not need another national strategy on suicide prevention. We need to take action on suicide prevention.
In particular, we want to be cautious and not focus on particular populations. I think suicide is an issue that is complex in nature. I think it reaches into families, adult males, seniors, children and youth, the veterans, and the armed forces. By focusing on particular populations, I think at times we run the danger of losing the full breadth and scope of the complexity of the issue, and we miss the opportunity to look at how communities can support those individuals across the lifespan.