Albertans struggle with mental health more than average

By ZOE MASON on September 11, 2025.

zmason@medicinehatnews.com

Sept. 10 was World Suicide Prevention Day.

According to the 2024 Canadian Mental Health Association report on the state of mental health in Canada, Alberta continues to experience higher than average rates of suicide and poor mental health. In 2024, 14.3 out of every 100,000 deaths in the province were caused by suicide, compared to a national average of 10.9 per 100,000.

This month also marks five years since the end of a four-month period in which the city of Medicine Hat was devastated by a string of deaths by suicide.

Audrey Skoog, suicide prevention co-ordinator at Medicine Hat Family Services, says suicide prevention is a year-round project.

Suicide prevention programming at Medicine Hat Family Services focuses primarily on teaching members of the community how to respond compassionately and safely to people who are struggling with their mental health.

“We just provide the basics on how to recognize, respond, and then refer,” said Skoog.

Other services offered include a chronic illness support group and a suicide survivors support group, which invites people grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide to connect with peers who share their experience.

Suicidal ideation is not easy to discern or diagnose. Even experts struggle to predict what may lead an individual to consider suicide, added Skoog.

Factors that may contribute include exposure to violence, the diagnosis of an illness, a major loss and disconnection from the community. But most often it is a complex combination of visible and invisible factors.

On Suicide Prevention Day, Skoog highlighted the importance of maintaining an open dialogue about mental health.

“There is this myth that talking about suicide is going to lead people to die, when really its the exact opposite. If we talk about suicide compassionately and safely and let people know that there’s people that care, there’s options. It’s a life preserver in the community.”

It is a conversation that does not require any specific expertise, added Skoog.

“You don’t have to have credentials to care about another human being, to listen to them and to help them get resources. And that’s what we really want to impart.”

Skoog encourages those actively struggling with their mental health to reach out for help.

“You don’t wait to wait till you’re fully in crisis. You don’t have to compare yourself to others. Even if you’re just questioning, ‘I’m not sure if I’m doing OK.’ It’s absolutely OK to reach out to a crisis line.”

Medicine Hat Family Services offers low-cost therapeutic counselling for as little as $8 per hour, and all group programming is free.

If you or someone you know is in crisis resources are available. The Suicide Crisis Helpline can be reached by call or text 988, 24 hours per day. In the case of an emergency dial 911. The Alberta Mental Health Help Line can be reached at 1-877-303-2642. The Kids Help Phone can be reached at 1-800-668-6868.

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