Item - 2014.HL34.2

The Board of Health:

1.         Requested the Medical Officer of Health, in collaboration with a major Toronto media outlet, to hold a forum for journalists on best practices in media reporting on suicide.

2.         Requested the Medical Officer of Health to develop and implement a public awareness campaign that focuses on reducing stigma related to risk factors of suicide and increasing knowledge about resources available for support and intervention. The campaign should include collaboration with health care experts, community agencies and other stakeholders.

3.         Requested the five Toronto Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) responsible for Toronto, in collaboration with health care regulatory and professional associations, to fund and mandate evidence-based and culturally competent gatekeeper training for health providers who work with at-risk and high risk individuals for suicide in Toronto.

4.         Requested the Chief Coroner for Ontario to implement the following actions:

a.         Provide more timely and accessible information regarding suicide deaths in Toronto, including systematic collection of a broader range of socio-demographic indicators (e.g. income, race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, occupation) to identify populations at risk for suicide; and

b.         Explore a multidisciplinary approach to suicide death investigations in Toronto, in collaboration with public health professionals, to identify further opportunities for suicide prevention.

5.         Requested Health Canada and the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities to restrict the availability of over-the-counter drugs commonly used in overdose, such as requiring blister packaging and placing specific drugs behind the pharmacy counter.

6.         Requested Accreditation Canada to enhance suicide prevention standards and practice guidelines for healthcare institutions providing mental health services to include the following:

a.         Ensure design and operating policies reduce or eliminate access to lethal means and ensure appropriate staffing levels and training to prevent suicide attempts; and

b.         Ensure that suicide prevention resources and services are provided, particularly in the post-discharge period, for specific populations known to be at very high risk for suicide, including people diagnosed with mental disorders.

7.         Requested the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Knowledge Translation Branch to fund research to address gaps in knowledge related to suicide, including, means restriction and other effective preventative interventions for suicide by hanging, the role and impact of the Internet on suicide-related behaviour, and effective interventions.

8.         Forwarded the report (October 30, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health to the four Toronto School Boards and Toronto's universities and colleges to encourage them to build on existing efforts to prevent and reduce risk for suicide and promote mental health among children, youth and young adults.

9.         Forwarded the report (October 30, 2014) from the Medical Officer of Health to the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario, Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Canadian Mental Health Association, Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, College of Nurses of Ontario, Ontario Medical Association and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.

The Medical Officer of Health gave a presentation to the Board of Health.