Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I would like to welcome all of you here today.
I also want to take the opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate our colleague Mr. Albrecht for introducing Bill C-300. He has been a relentless advocate on this issue. In fact he started with motion 388 in the last Parliament.
I'm not sure, but I don't think he mentioned today that he was also a founding member and co-chair of an all-party parliamentary committee on palliative and compassionate care. It studied four different areas, one of them being suicide prevention. Last fall that group managed to introduce their report called “Not To Be Forgotten”. I encourage you to take a look at it, and specifically at the chapter on the work you're doing.
Today when Mr. Albrecht was here, he mentioned he was intentional about not identifying any one particular group in his bill. As we can see here today, we have many different groups represented. So perhaps there's an understanding that strategies can transcend age and context, while recognizing the unique challenges you face within the different areas you are representing.
I am a member of a family that has survived suicide. It was many years ago—24 years ago, in fact. I lost my youngest brother. It was his third attempt. As family, obviously there was something we did not access or that was not available to us to try to work through what might have been creating this need in him, and certainly he did end up taking his own life.
Ms. Israel, I want to focus on something you mentioned earlier in terms of framing the issue. You said, “Suicide, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal behaviours have devastating impacts on families and communities across the country.” Then you stated, “All of us—families, caregivers, levels of government, and community leaders—have a role to play in preventing suicide and in reaching out to individuals, families, friends....”
I know you are actively working on strategies to help avoid the risk factors for suicide in children, and that you have developed national guidelines for seniors. I'd like to give you an opportunity to speak to both of those.
Also, if there's anything you are working on in terms of providing assistance to families who are survivors of suicide, would you speak about that as well?