It may have been hazy outside but inside it was bright and scintillating!
Pres Jeff and ADG Cheryle/Jim were away basking in a resort in Chelan taking in District Assembly….report to follow?
PP Lynda introduced guests Jim and Judy Burns, annual visitors to our club while they take in the Summer Curling Bonspiel, Lionel from the Oliver Chronical, and our speaker Liesel Reimer. Elly and Teresa got honorable mention in the most frequent visitor category.
Seldom do we get a speaker that can generate such traction with the membership. Some of that was because the subject matter was new to us and some because the speaker was so engaging. Liesel represents the Canadian Mental Health Association as Community Educator for the S Okanagan Similkameen region and her focus was on suicides, and the resources, intervention training and support available through the Penticton based CMHA office.
The belief is that all suicides are preventable. The goal is to build a suicide safer community through awareness and training. The means are resources, the workshop training and awareness and CMHA provides support for that in terms of courses (online and in class) and 24/7 phone response resources. Be alert for potential suicide events and connect with resources. There is a hotline 1-800-Suicide.
In Osoyoos and playing with expectation numbers, we should expect 1-2 suicides each year. While that does not sound significant, it very clearly is. One life is so important and in suicide, there is an average of 20 people involved in the event that are also heavily impacted.
Interesting to note that 75% of suicides are male and half of those are in the 40-54 year old segment….hmmmmmm! Youth was the second highest age segment at risk for suicide.
There is a Clubhouse in Penticton for Mental Health member support with meals and activities but the outlying communities need to rely on the outreach programs and services.
There was an excellent question and discussion time that followed and clearly everyone was engaged.
In other news…LOTB was discussed at length and a variety of directions determined. There are 26 tickets remaining and Judy implored those that need tickets to respond to her by next Tuesday as she goes away for 2 weeks of unapproved vacation.
Harold stole Elly’s ticket to win the 50/50…according to Ramiro.
Next week is a scheduled business meeting to work on LOTB and the following week is a social TBA.
Have a great week...no smoking!