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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 12, 2014 | 8 Local nurses host forum to talk about suicide by Rachael Williams Metroland West Media When whispers of a colleague's whereabouts started spreading around her nursing class, Elaine Santa Mina couldn't help but be curious. But as soon as she asked what happened, she was silenced. "People were saying she died by suicide and considered it taboo to talk about," said Santa Mina, registered nurse and professor at Ryerson University, during her keynote speech on suicide awareness. Wednesday, the Milton Sports Centre was host to 150 nurses, medical professionals, mental health workers, emergency responders and interested parties from Halton for World Suicide Prevention Day. Organized by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) Halton chapter, it was reportedly the first time an event of that magnitude was organized around suicide prevention in Halton. "The attendance confirms the need for increased discussion and dialogue," said Karimah Alidina, president of the RNAO Halton chapter. According to Stats Canada, suicide is the number one cause of death in people aged 15 to Keynote speaker Dr. Elaine Santa Mina discusses common myths about suicide and mental illness to an audience of about 150 people at the Milton Sports Centre Wednesday. | photo by Rachael Williams ­ Metroland West Media (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/ HaltonPhotog) 34. A report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) a week ago confirmed that more than 800,000 people die by suicide every year -- that's one death every 40 seconds. In Halton, there are about 30 suicide deaths and more than 420 hospitalizations due to attempted suicides every year, based on stats from the Halton Suicide Prevention Coalition. One of Halton's registered nurses was supsee Expression on p.14 Wide selection of vanities to choose from groUP of seven framed Prints 25 OFF SALE % IN-STOCK MERCHANDISE ONLY** *OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE BUY ONE ITEM AT REGULAR PRICE AND RECEIVE THE SECOND ITEM AT 25% OFF* FIREPLACE & ENTERTAINMENT UNIT by Rosehaven Homes Best Choice Imaging Solutions many sofa set styles to choose from Wide selection of vanities to choose from Burlington Mall variety of chairs rattan dining set canada now in two loCations to serve you better · 905-635-8779 | South oakville Centre Classique -Decor.com (formerly hopedale mall) · 905-847-2975