Union video campaign focuses on suicide awareness and prevention
The You Are Not Alone campaign brings attention to those affected by suicide
An eight-part video series called You Are Not Alone created by Alberta's Teamsters union is an honest, in-your-face look at people affected by suicide in the province.
The video's creators hope to bring awareness to suicide and ways to prevent it at a time when Albertans are vulnerable. In 2015, Albertans who died by suicide increased by 30 per cent.
"We just want to talk about it. It doesn't matter who's talking about it," said Wayne Garner, Vice President of Teamsters Local 362. "We just want to make people comfortable with the uncomfortable. I think the more we speak about this, the more the message will get out."
The site features eight episodes about different topics around suicide — and each video features different people talking about their own experiences. There are also social media links to celebrities who have interests in suicide prevention, as well as links to email policy makers with suggestions.
Stephen Harman is one of the people featured in the web series. He struggled with suicidal thoughts due to stress. "I started getting an image of me shooting myself. With every single heartbeat it was like, 'I want to shoot myself, I want to shoot myself,'" Harman said in the video.
Harman is a sculptor in Red Deer. He wasn't initially involved with Teamsters, but he is very involved in speaking from his own experience in suicide awareness.
Two years ago, he hit a near-fatal boiling point in handling his depression. He dealt with stressful deadlines for sculpture projects with alcohol use.
He attempted to take his own life by taking a lethal combination of pills and rubbing alcohol. He still considers it a mystery as to why he's still alive.
He's gotten addiction and mental health help since then and says he's very close to being the same person he was before he suffered depression that led to his suicide attempt.
"When it comes down to it, you have to somehow make the decision that you're going to get better yourself," he said.
"The advances in mental health over the past few years are incredible. I'd say if you are feeling this way, get help. It's out there and it's worth it."