Today, Larry Miller, MP for Bruce Grey Owen Sound, hosted a round table discussion with local stakeholders in regards to suicide prevention with a particular focus on preventing suicide in youth, the MP's office said in a news release.

The round table was hosted in light of a recent initiative by the Mental Health Commission of Canada entitled 308 Conversations, MP's office said. The goal of the initiative is to promote discussions on strategies to prevent suicide in each of the 308 Federal ridings in Canada.

Mr. Miller invited more than 30 different stakeholders to participate in this discussion, according to the news release. Health officials, councillors, social workers, military personnel, and local residents who have been affected by suicide were among those who participated in the discussion. The primary focus of the discussion was on suicide prevention in youth, the news release stated.

Strategies, suggestions, insights and personal stories were shared with respect to the topic. Furthermore, there was discussion surrounding the unique situations faced by rural areas such as Bruce and Grey Counties, when dealing with mental illness, and the strategies that can be implemented to ensure that all patients receive the care they need.

"I would like to thank everyone who took the time to come out and participate in this very important discussion," Miller was quoted as saying in the release. "This is a topic that has impacted many people in the area and I hope that the discussion that we had today will help to shed some light on how to prevent suicide and offer the best possible assistance to those who are struggling."

A summary of the discussion will be provided to the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Drawing on the input from the round table discussions that are to take place across the country, the Mental Health Commission of Canada will release a community model on suicide prevention in the fall of 2014, the MP's office said in the news release.

For more information on the 308 Conversations

initiative visit; http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/308conversations

Source: Office of Larry Miller, MP for Bruce-Grey Owen Sound.