River Valley Suicide Prevention Awareness Committee plans several activities for its Day in Yellow
The River Valley Suicide Prevention Committee is asking everyone to brighten their wardrobes on Feb. 7 to raise awareness of suicide prevention.
February is Suicide Prevention Month, and the RVSPC and partners will host activities as part of New Brunswick’s Day in Yellow and throughout the month. That includes an invitation to join them in downtown Woodstock for a coffee and chat at Fedelio’s Cafe. Wear yellow and get cake, plus free coffee for the first 24 people.
Between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., visitors can enjoy coffee and cake and chat with RVSPC members about this important issue.
Other events during Suicide Prevention Month include safeTALK, an evidence-based certification program, which will be held from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 at the L.P. Fisher Public Library in Woodstock.
The program is designed to prepare participants to recognize signs of someone struggling with thoughts of suicide and to provide information to help connect them with life-affirming help.
RVSPC also encourages Upper Valley residents, groups of friends, classmates, co-workers, and others to wear, carry, or use yellow and post a photo on Facebook or Instagram with the #RVSPC tagged to the committee’s page to be eligible for prize draws.
Classrooms can win a pizza party, while businesses or organizations can earn a coffee break by having coffee and muffins delivered.
Individuals can win “A Smile Box” featuring self-care products and items to “make you smile.”
The RVSPC stresses the importance of suicide awareness and understanding ways to recognize signs of your own or someone else’s struggles and the many options available to provide help.
Dustin Day, Woodstock Community Program Coordinator Team Lead for the Canadian Mental Health Association of New Brunswick, highlighted a new project launched by the River Valley Suicide Prevention Committee and Western Valley Link Committee.
“We have created a Resource Sticker that businesses, organizations, churches, community centres and clubs can put up to help link people to the services they need,” Day explained.
He said a key element to a healthy community and society is knowing where to access help.
Day said scanning the QR codes on the Resource Stickers on display with their smartphones links the phone holder to a list of available resources throughout the Upper Valley.
Day explained that the Link program has been in existence in New Brunswick schools for 25 years and is excited to partner with the Suicide Prevention Committee to expand its work into the community.
Day said the Suicide Prevention Committee and Link Committee have created ‘helping trees’ that direct people to the service they need when they need it.
“We are providing access to these Helping Trees through the simple scan of a QR code, and we are hoping these will be on display in doors and windows throughout the River Valley starting this February.”

On Thursday, Jan 30, Day, RVSPC president Ebony Wade, other committee members and Western Valley Link representatives met at Day’s office in downtown Woodstock to accept a donation from one of Woodstock’s corporate sponsors.
RBC Woodstock presented a $1,500 cheque, adding bank staff would volunteer at an upcoming RVSPC event.
Mortgage specialist Andrea Leech said the donation was in memory of a co-worker.
Day explained the funds donated through the N.B. Mental Health Association will help the committee in its ongoing efforts to bring awareness to suicide prevention and educate the public about help sources.
Despite the efforts of so many, Day said, suicide numbers remain too high. He said the most recent numbers indicate 126 individuals, including 11 in the River Valley, took their own lives in 2022.
Day added that the number is probably low, noting the coroner will declare suicide only when the evidence is clear. He explained that “accidents” may be a result of someone taking their own life.
He said the key to bringing down the number is informing those struggling that they have places to turn and helping others understand the signs that someone they encounter may need help and where to find it.
