Buddy Up is about helping buddies but it’s important to take care of ourselves, too. Building ‘strength’  and resilience is key. Building strength within helps us work through emotions, relieve stress, and remember to simply enjoy life. Whichever aspect of your health you’re choosing to strengthen – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual – take this week to focus on that.

Centre for Suicide Prevention’s 6^th annual Run For Life is happening during Power Up week. Join the Buddy Up community as we participate by signing up for Team Buddy Up!

Run For Life is a journey from darkness to light, to raise awareness for suicide prevention and remember loved ones lost to suicide.

This is a virtual event – participate anywhere, anytime, and in any way: by running, walking, or doing any other physical activity. If you can’t participate, consider donating to Team Buddy Up.

Join Team Buddy Up

Other activities:

• Exercising
• Journaling
• Meditating
• Playing with a pet or kids

Read our Power Up blog to learn more about building resilience.

Some of our most authentic conversations and deepest connections happen while we’re working with others. This week, work on a project with a buddy. While you’re working, you might ask how they’re really doing, or you might just have a good time working together. Either way, spending time together can deepen connections.

How to participate

1. Ask a Buddy to work on a project with you. Here are some ideas:
   • Build a gingerbread house
   • Take a pottery class
   • Work on a home improvement project

     

2. While you’re working, ask how they’re really doing
   • Check out this conversation guide if you’re worried about a buddy
   • Even without a deep conversation, just spending time together can make your friendship stronger and let your buddy know you’re there for them if they need support

Kindness drives connection – this week, do something thoughtful for a buddy or for others in your life. This is a tangible way to show them you care and that you’re there for them when they need you.

How to participate:

Do something thoughtful. Here are some ideas:

• Write a note to a buddy.
• Volunteer for a charity (e.g., the food bank)
• Bring snacks to work

Watch this campaign in action.

Kindness and connection are life-saving.

Research has found that those who received “caring letters” following a suicide attempt were less likely to re-attempt than those who did not. A seemingly small gesture of connection can be life saving.

Thank you to everyone who participated in Buddy Up Month! As involvement in the campaign continues to grow, so does its impact. Check out this years highlights.

2023 highlights

June Challenge

Complete as many activities from the June Challenge Card as you can to promote mental wellbeing and drive connection throughout June!

Download the card

Become a Champion

You don’t need to be a Champion to participate in Buddy Up month – everyone is welcome! But if you’d like to order free Buddy Up swag including wallet cards, air fresheners, posters, and stickers, sign up to become a Champion today. There are no minimum expectations.

Sign up

Free Swag

Order your free swag to share the message that men’s suicide can be prevented. We have stickers, air fresheners, character posters, infographic posters, toolkits and wallet cards.

Order now

A special thanks to all of the funders of the Buddy Up campaign and to lead funder Viewpoint Foundation.

What else can I do

Explore more ways to be involved and spread awareness by becoming a Champion.

All Buddy Up Champions get free swag to promote the campaign – and you can always order more! It’s a great way to promote men’s suicide prevention.  Put an air freshener in your car, a sticker on your hardhat, a toolkit on your desk or a wallet card in your back pocket to start the conversation about men’s suicide prevention.

Available swag:

• Stickers
• Car air fresheners
• Character Posters
• Infographic Posters
• Toolkits with information about men’s suicide prevention
• Wallet cards with conversation tips

Do something active with a buddy; it’s a great way to connect and, if you’re not breathing too hard, start a meaningful conversation by asking how they’re doing.

Examples:

• Start a company sports team
• Hit the gym with an old friend
• Join a fundraising walk/run (like the Run for Life!)

Volunteer with a buddy or a group for a feel-good activity that drives connection and helps others.

Examples:

• Pack food at the food bank
• Plant and tend vegetables in a community garden
• Clean up litter in parks

Promote Buddy Up during an event you’re already part of.  Suicide prevention involves us all and community conversations help erode stigma.

Examples:

• Hand out stickers at a workplace potluck
• Do a school project on men’s suicide prevention
• Talk about Buddy Up in a safety meeting

Share the Buddy Up campaign and encourage others you know to become Champions by signing up at buddyup.ca.

Examples:

• Post about Buddy Up on social media
• Have a conversation about Buddy Up
• Ask a friend to do a Buddy Up activity with you

Learning about men’s suicide and its prevention can help you in your role as a Champion. Find out more about what contributes to suicide, how to talk to people considering it and how we work together to prevent it.  

Examples:

• Read the men and suicide toolkit
• Watch this video about how to talk to someone thinking about suicide
• Visit the Together to Live website for a deep dive into suicide prevention
• Check out a Buddy Up webinar

Hosting a games night is a great way to bring people together to connect and have fun!

Examples:

• Host a board game night
• Play video games with a distant buddy
• Have buddies over to watch sports

Learn a new skill with a buddy. Strengthen your relationship with a new challenge together. Connect and ask how they’re really doing.

Examples:

• Cook a new recipe
• Check out an art class
• Try a new sport