Embrace Life Day/ World Suicide Prevention Day
Public Service Announcement
Embrace Life Day/ World Suicide Prevention Day
Start Date: September 9, 2014
End Date: September 10, 2014
Iqaluit, NU 45 sec
Embrace Life Day/World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10. Nunavummiut are invited to participate in the international Cycle around the Globe event, by cycling the distance of the Northwest Passage in Nunavut.
The goal is to cycle the 2,700 kilometres of the Northwest Passage that lies within Nunavut, from Pond Inlet to the Amundsen Gulf, west of Kugluktuk. This event is meant to highlight the importance of "connectedness" in suicide prevention.
Look for the different activities being conducted in your community on September 10. Your community lead will be organizing cycling and walking events throughout Nunavut. At the end of the day, community leads will collect the total kilometres people cycle on bicycles, stationary bicycles or by walking.
Some of the events that are occurring across the territory on September 10 are:
Cambridge Bay – The Cambridge Bay community team has arranged a 5-km walk around the hamlet. The community’s mental health facility is also setting up stationary bikes for its residents. After the walk, the community will host a barbecue and offer snacks. Youth also have the opportunity to create posters about suicide prevention to be judged by Ariel Tweto (Alaskan Inuk reality TV star), on September 27, when she visits the community.
Arviat – The community team in Arviat, including community health representatives, mental health staff, RCMP and many others, have organized a
walk. The community is hosting a celebration at the community hall, with tables set up from different organizations in the hamlet, as well as a Piliriqatigiinniq cake decorating contest.
Pond Inlet – The mental health team in Pond Inlet is collaborating with teachers, RCMP and other community members for a community walk. After the event, residents can head to the community hall for outdoor games and refreshments. More events are being planned and details will be made public closer to the event.
Iqaluit – A community walk will start at 3 p.m. at the Arctic Winter Games Complex and end at Sylvia Grinnell Park. Atii Fitness and the Frobisher Racquet Club, as well as Grinnell Place, have kilometer-tracking sheets posted for their members. Embrace Life also has numerous events planned throughout the entire week in recognition of their 10th anniversary. Please refer to the Embrace Life Council website, www.inuusiq.ca, for more information about all Iqaluit events.
For more information on who is your community lead, please contact your local health centre or go to the Department of Health website at http://gov.nu.ca/health .
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Media Contact:
Audrey Lemieux
Communication and Social Marketing Analyst
Department of Health
867-975-5949