MEDIA RELEASE - January 28, 2026

SafeTALK Suicide Alertness program offered by Living Sky School Division given a ‘Step Up’ through $10,000 grant.

NORTH BATTLEFORD, SK. – The Living Sky School Division (LSKYSD) received a $10,000 grant from the Step Up for Mental Health Fund to support continued delivery of LivingWorks’ SafeTALK Suicide Alertness Training.  SafeTALK is program designed to help individuals notice and respond to situations where thoughts of suicide could be present and connect to life-saving support. It is designed for anyone age 15 and up. This funding will allow this important training to continue to be offered free of charge to students within Living Sky by covering the cost of program materials.

Step Up for Mental Health is a Saskatoon-based run/walk that raises funds and awareness for mental health.  The net proceeds from the 5km, 10km and 21.1km run and walk are disbursed to Saskatchewan organizations undertaking projects that support mental health in their communities.  LSKYSD was honoured to be a 2025 grant recipient for work related to suicide alertness training.  The division began offering the LivingWorks safeTALK suicide alertness programming to students and staff in 2018.  The division recognizes that mental health continues to affect communities in a variety of ways and aligns with LivingWorks’ belief that ‘every conversation can make a difference.’  By equipping students and staff with practical skills and knowledge to recognize when someone may be thinking about suicide and what action to take, the division believes that this training helps support communities beyond the walls of schools.

Jessica Labman, counsellor at LSKYSD, is a trained safeTALK facilitator and strong advocate for student mental health and well-being. She has participated in the Step Up for Mental Health run the past three years feeling a strong connection to her work. “Since I received the training in 2018, I have trained close to 1000 individuals within LSKYSD in safeTALK.” When asked about the program’s impact she says, “The program helps reduce stigma and gives young people the confidence and skills to have open, direct conversations when someone may be struggling. By empowering youth to recognize signs of suicide risk and connect others with trained professionals, safeTALK is strengthening our communities and fostering a culture of care, awareness, and support.”

Students who have taken safeTalk training have a positive response to the program as well.  Feedback form responses include statements such: “It prepares you and addresses some of the fears surrounding discussions on this topic,” “I found it good to know that it is OK to ask ‘Are you thinking of suicide?’,” and “[The training is] Easy to follow, interactive and engaging.”

Thanks to the support from the Step Up for Mental Health Fund, Living Sky School Division is able to continue to offer this important programming for free to support mental health and suicide prevention in all the communities we serve.

To learn more about LivingWorks safeTalk programming, visit their website at https://livingworks.net/training/livingworks-safetalk/ .

To learn more about the Step Up for Mental Health fund and annual event visit https://saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca/grants/step-up-for-mental-health-fund/ .

Kelsie Valliere, PR & Advancement Specialist 
Living Sky School Division No. 202 
kelsie.valliere@lskysd.ca | 306-937-7905 

Living Sky School Division is a public school division proudly located in Treaty 6 Territory with schools across Northwest and West Central Saskatchewan. It encompasses a wide geographic area including the Battlefords, many communities, villages, First Nation communities and Hutterite colonies. Currently, twenty-eight schools are located in nineteen communities. Our schools include PreK-12, elementary, high schools and alternate schools with a student population of approximately 5,300 students. 

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