A candle lighting is taking place in Lloydminster in remembrance of lives lost to suicide. The event will also be promoting suicide prevention and mental health awareness in the community.
The Lloydminster Youth Council and Region Health Foundation are hosting the event on September 10th outside City Hall. Chair of the Youth Council Brianna Wempe says she came across the idea after researching ways to bring mental health awareness to teenagers.
“I saw that one of the things that people can do for World Suicide Prevention Day is a light a candle at 8 pm and put it on their window. I thought, what a better way to do the candle lighting than in front of City Hall for the whole community.”
The Health Foundation will have an information booth set up where they will also be accepting donations. All proceeds will be going towards Project Sunrise, which is a mental health initiative aimed at the current needs of Lloydminster and region. Wempe says that the event is important to the Youth Council because suicide is among the leading causes of death in teenagers.
“It’s such an important need in our community to bring some awareness to mental health. I find there is no one better than teenagers bringing some action to the needs of our community.”
At 7 pm, Speakers from the Youth Council and Project Sunrise will be talking about how mental health is being handled in the community and some initiatives in place. The free event will have Candles and lanterns provided for the lighting at 8 pm.
“I’m just hoping to bring some awareness into the issue of suicide.”