Sign of help on Windsor's Riverfront hopes to steer people away from crisis
CBC
WARNING: This story contains reference to suicide.
It might not look like much, but mental health experts hope a pink sign along Windsor, Ont.'s Riverfront will help people in a time of distress.
And it's one that Windsor resident and suicide survivor Tina Szymczak said made her "emotional."
"I've sat at the river myself and contemplated ending my life going into the river, and so seeing that sign and knowing that it might stop even one person from going down that path was really powerful," Szymczak said.
Located at the end of the concrete walkout by the foot of the Ambassador Bridge, the sign, which reads "Stop! You are not alone, 519-973-4435 (24/7 crisis line)" is the only visible form of crisis help along that portion of the Detroit River.
The Canadian Mental Health Association's (CMHA) Windsor-Essex branch and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, who spearheaded getting the sign up, said the location was identified as one of high risk by Windsor police.
The idea for the sign was adopted from a Roots of Hope suicide prevention project by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. It was installed by the City of Windsor on Dec. 31.
"[The sign] can't hurt — it can only help," said Kim Willis, CMHA's director of communications.
"It's letting people know in that moment if they're struggling that there are supports available. It's also bringing suicide into the mainstream and having those conversations that there shouldn't be stigma attached to discussing those negative thoughts or thought patterns."
Szymczak said she believes it can be lifesaving in a time of need.
"There are some people that don't have anyone in their life that can help them and just seeing that sign ... I think it's very concrete, something in the heat of the moment, being right there right in front of you," she said.
There are no logos indicating who the sign is connected to or what crisis supports will be on the other end of the line, but the simplicity of it is what Willis said their Suicide Awareness Coalition thought would be best.
She said the coalition thought organizational branding might discourage people from reaching out, if they previously had a bad experience.
The sign has arrived during a global pandemic, which has widely led to an increased need for mental health support.
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