Interview with Scott Chisholm, President of Collateral Damage - part 3 - Canada Canada Culture & Events

To read part 1, click here. To read part 2, click here.

Cendrine Marrouat: When will the book be released? And what else is planned around this project?

Scott Chisholm: I am now hoping for the book to be released in the spring of 2013. The project started out as a local and regional project that could have been completed in one year. However, the response has been overwhelming from not only those who have come forward to participate but also from professionals and organizations alike from across Canada and around the world. The unanimous feeling is that the project must be taken to every province and territory across Canada. At this time, the only obstacle to this truly being a national project is funding.

Along with the book, we will also be creating gallery exhibits that will be made available in communities across Canada. The interim exhibit that is now in Nova Scotia has proven to be powerful and effective.

I am also available for speaking engagements that are a continuation of creating dialogue on suicide. Whether it’s a keynote address or a business breakfast session, my Collateral Damage Project presentation has proven to engage audiences in an open dialogue on suicide.

CM: Suicide affects everyone. And yet, only a few people dare talk about this issue. According to you, why is that so?

SC: I strongly believe that people do not have the ‘tools’ or the training to talk about suicide. I was in grade 12 when my father died by suicide and my teachers didn’t talk about it and I believe it is because they were never trained on how to do so. I am a Paramedic and Firefighter who attends to suicide calls frequently and I have never received any training in suicide (until I started the Collateral Damage Project). Even today, almost 30 years later, teachers still have no training in suicide awareness or prevention. Policies for how suicide can and will be talked about in schools is commonly made by Principals who have no training in suicide. I believe that fear, myth and anxiety are often what leads to the overwhelming stigma that plagues suicide. Although I talk about training that is needed for teachers, Paramedics and Firefighters, I believe strongly that business leaders, human resource professionals, transit drivers and Coaches are all examples of where training should be required.

A three-hour workshop called SafeTALK provides the tools that break the myths and tangible tools for creating suicide-safer communities. As well as SafeTALK, there are other ‘gatekeeper’ training programs that are available in most communities that would dispel the myths and open the dialogue on suicide. Everyone needs to know and learn that talking about suicide will NOT cause it and that suicide can be prevented.

CM: What do you wish to achieve with "Collateral Damage"?

SC: I want to create a proactive dialogue on suicide to get rid of the stigma that surrounds it. I want to find a way to engage people in suicide prevention and awareness before it strikes their family or friends. I want people to know that SafeTALK is to suicide what CPR is to heart attacks. I want people to know that because a dialogue on cancer was created 30 – 35 years ago, we are now saving those that we can. Can you imagine putting the words 'breast' and 'prostrate' on a billboard 30 years ago? Because we started talking about it, due in large part to people like Terry Fox, we are now saving those that we can. I want people to know that suicide can be prevented and talking about it is the first step.

CM: Where can people find more information on the project? And how can they help and/or participate?

SC: The following links are for the website, Facebook group and to follow me on Twitter. Please register as a user in the website forum or click on ‘notify me when the book is available’ to get on our mailing list.

A big way to support the Collateral Damage Project is through the purchase of the Friends of Emmet single ‘Coming Apart’. All proceeds from the Canadian sales of ‘Coming Apart’ will go to the Collateral Damage Project.

Donations can be made through the website and if you are interested in creating an awareness event and fundraiser in your community please contact me through the website.

Collateral Damage Project t-shirts are available for sale on the website.