For Éric Girard, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Le Tournant suicide prevention and crisis center, which helps thousands of people every year, this resource is more relevant than ever. Interview with Éric Girard, who deals with death on a daily basis, and who hopes to use his expertise in this organization to raise its profile and help even more people. 

In this 35th Suicide Prevention Week, which runs from February 2 to 8, 2025 under the theme Prevention is better than death, Mr. Girard has been involved with the resource's Board of Directors for eight years, including two years as President. 

In everyday life, Éric Girard is a funeral director for a company located on the island of Montreal. He deals with bereaved families on a daily basis, sometimes through suicide, and regularly receives families from Vaudreuil-Soulanges in his office. 

 “I see death up close, and I wanted to share my professional expertise with Le Tournant. Especially since, after experiencing the suicide of a loved one, a person has a 75% chance of taking action themselves. We need to talk about it and spread the word about Le Tournant. Personally, a long time ago, I lost a friend to suicide. We had the same profile, the same age, and we did the same job. It certainly shakes you up when you lose someone close to you like that,” he sums up from the outset.  

In most cases of death by suicide, mental health plays an important role.  “I took several courses on the subject at university, and it's a pleasure for me to contribute my knowledge to Le Tournant. If it can help save lives, that's the goal,” he adds. 

Through his work, Éric Girard has observed two things: people who die by suicide have very different profiles, and they often have one thing in common: mental health issues.  “Suicide victims come in all ages, profiles and backgrounds, but almost all have one thing in common: mental health. None of them takes their own life with a clear conscience, as we often see on TV or in the movies. Suicide is a violent experience for the people close to them,” he confides.

For Mr. Girard, there is another form of suicide, which has been legally accepted in Quebec for several years, and which is gentler on loved ones: medical aid in dying.” At first, I was afraid it would be devastating, but it's not. Loved ones have time to come to terms with the idea and accept the decision of the person who made it. Above all, they know the reasons behind the gesture, there's nothing left unsaid as there is for those bereaved by suicide who don't always have the answers to their questions.”

Le Tournant, a life-saving resource 

For the loved ones of people contemplating suicide or worried about them, Le Tournant can literally save lives.  “We can turn to the organization to question, or question ourselves, if we're being consulted for ourselves in order to detect signs or clues that may lead to suicide. We can get assistance in identifying clues and knowing whether or not it's urgent to act, or tips on how to try to connect with the person in distress. It has to be said that people contemplating suicide are often isolated. We can give them advice on how to hold on to something, or help them with certain problems, such as financial or other issues.“

Mr. Girard takes his thinking a step further.  “Le Tournant is a safety net to fall back on when the crisis reaches its peak. Thereafter, a network is in place in the region to help people according to their problems. For example, Psycohésion offers mental health support.”

In closing, if Mr. Girard had one message for people in distress, it would be this: “Don't hesitate to consult Le Tournant. It's an anonymous service. No matter where you are in Quebec, there are resources to help you, even if you're unemployed and on welfare.There's always an organization close to us that can save our lives,” he concludes.

Many other resources in the region 

The Suroît region is home to other support services for local men and women suffering from psychological distress, health problems or other issues that could lead to suicide. 

These resources include 

- Le Versant; 

- Via L'Anse; 

- La Passerelle; 

- Le Pont du Suroît: 

- L'Accueil pour Elle; 

- Open area for 12-17 year-olds; 

For more information, visit the Tournant website. Staff can be reached at 450 371-2820. Le Tournant's crisis and prevention line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 450 371-4090 or toll-free at 1 833 371-4090.