In response to your question, Libby, I believe that the reason we need a national coordinating body is in order to specifically focus on suicide.
Now, that's not to say that it isn't crucial that we work in cooperation with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and indeed CASP is certainly doing that.
I think there is one piece that's very important in what I see so far in working with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Certainly suicide is addressed here and there when you look at the work that's being done to date. But the real concern is that if it's scattered, without particular focus, then it may continue to support the fragmentation that we see all across Canada.
In national strategies that have been most effective—Scotland, the United States, and Ireland are very good examples—we see that they have actually set up a national coordinating body or a national implementation team that works often as an entity under a larger group that's responsible for broader mental health initiatives and mental illness prevention work in a country. But there's specific focus, within that, on suicide that is very particular.
Our concern, certainly, is that whatever work is done needs to fall under the umbrella, perhaps, of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. But it really needs specific focus on suicide because it crosses so many jurisdictions and boundaries. It needs particular focus and I think a particular action plan in order that we can do the kind of preventative work that we need. Also, provide the appropriate supports to people who have been touched by suicide, who have lost loved ones to suicide. Focus on the kinds of intervention that are required, and certainly that includes the support of community wellness. It includes upstream initiatives that support mental well-being, but it also means that we have to intervene more directly with people who are experiencing suicidal ideation, with people who are making suicide attempts.
I almost imagine that it works a little bit like a Russian doll. Perhaps the Mental Health Commission is the largest doll, but there's a suicide prevention focus and strategy and national coordinating body that fits inside that Russian doll, if that metaphor is helpful.