The Winnipeg Suicide Prevention Network (WSPN) held its second annual Forest of Hope World Suicide Prevention Day event on Sept. 10 at Whittier Park in St. Vital.
Nursing faculty members Shelley Marchinko and Barbara Tallman are currently on the committee that organized the event, along with Arlana Vadnais, associate director, of wellness and prevention at UM’s Student Wellness Centre.
The Forest of Hope is a long-term program by the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention to help raise awareness about suicide prevention. Winnipeg is the third city in Canada to have a Forest of Hope.
The forest – intended to provide a space of reflection and raise awareness about suicide prevention – was initially planted in 2024. Close to 30 trees were added this year, according to Dr. Elaine Mordoch, associate professor at the College of Nursing and past member of the WSPN committee.
“Even though the project is only two years old, there is a little forest appearing. It is a beautiful project,” Mordoch said.
In addition to the tree planting, the event included several speakers, including Winnipeg city council member Matt Allard, Nancy Parker from the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention, Curt Sparkes from WSPN, and an opening prayer from Elder Cheryl Thomas.
Student events
Following World Suicide Prevention Day, College of Nursing students also held two suicide awareness events at the Helen Glass Centre for Nursing atrium, on Sept. 29 and Oct. 7.
Fourth-year students Dylan Yakabowich and Jin (Hyeonjin) Park organized the events, along with Mordoch and Marchinko.
The events were held to raise awareness of 988, a 24/7 North America-wide suicide crisis helpline. The helpline offers support for anyone with thoughts of suicide, or those who have been affected by suicide loss, by calling or texting 9-8-8.
Yakabowich said the events included exercises on self-reflection and what nurses need to know about suicide prevention.
“We thought this was very important because mental illness encompasses all areas of nursing, not just mental health units, but all areas. It is present and it’s important for nurses to know how to deal with it when those situations arise,” he said.