A youth suicide prevention program that has supported thousands of young people in Greater Victoria is expanding to more Vancouver Island school districts.

Provided by , the program offers in-person workshops in three Victoria school districts and also runs an online crisis chat service named . NEED2 has offered its services for more than two decades.

B次元官网网址淵oung people face more complex challenges than ever, and those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts need to know theyB次元官网网址檙e not alone,B次元官网网址� said Jennifer Whiteside, minister of mental health and addictions. B次元官网网址淲ith this expansion, more young people will be connected to the right services and have access to safe, supportive spaces, where they can openly talk.B次元官网网址�

This expansion is set to complement , which takes place on Sept. 10. Its new theme for the next three years is centred on B次元官网网址渃hanging the narrative on suicideB次元官网网址�, which is in line with NEED2 ethos, explained Sabrina Studney, NEED2B次元官网网址檚 executive director.

B次元官网网址淲e try to bring to light the importance of communication regarding suicidal ideations, to decrease the silence and stigma regarding suicide, and provide space for those experiencing suicidal ideations to feel safe and seek support B次元官网网址� rather than suffering in isolation,B次元官网网址� said Studney.

Part of NEED2B次元官网网址檚 program expansion includes featuring mindfulness workshops for elementary schools. 

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e developed a program thatB次元官网网址檚 more age-appropriate for elementary-age students,B次元官网网址� said Studney. B次元官网网址淲e are also hoping to put that out this year if possible.B次元官网网址�

Thanks in part to an Island Health , NEED2 received $10,000 to help with the expansion, with a timeline that runs to the end of June 2025.

During the last school year, NEED2 provided workshops to more than 3,600 students in Greater Victoria. Studney expects that figure will be near 5,000 in the next school year. 

Over the past year, the Youthspace.ca chat service served more than 4,500 clients nationally, with B.C. accounting for more than 1,650 of those.

According to the , 18 per cent of youth surveyed in south Vancouver Island had B次元官网网址渟eriously considered suicide in the past year,B次元官网网址� while 19 per cent reported missing out on B次元官网网址渘eeded mental health services.B次元官网网址�