In crisis? Call 9-8-8 (Canada) — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Logo

The Flare Initiative

Break the silence. Shining a light on first responder suicides through data-driven prevention and national visibility.

Who We Are

Firefighter background
Firefighter foreground

Breaking the silence on first responder suicide.

The Flare Initiative was created in response to a critical gap in suicide tracking for first responders. Canada currently has no consistent system to track suicides among police, fire, EMS, corrections, or dispatch personnel.

Existing information is fragmented, inconsistent, and inaccessible, leaving first responder agencies and mental health organizations unable to fully understand the scope of the issue or evaluate prevention efforts.

We're building the first national database to track first responder suicides in Canada—creating the visibility needed to drive evidence-based prevention, inform policy changes, and reduce stigma around mental health.

Our Mission

To reduce first responder suicides through data-driven prevention.

By creating visibility on the true scale of first responder suicides, the Flare Initiative will provide the evidence base for effective prevention programs, inform policy changes, and reduce stigma around first responder mental health.

Our goal is to establish a sustainable, national tracking system that enables organizations, governments, and mental health professionals to understand trends, measure the effectiveness of interventions, and ultimately save lives.

Through transparency, collaboration, and evidence-based action, we can break the silence and create lasting change for those who protect our communities.

First responders team
Firefighter portrait

A Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight

Our Approach

01

Collect Data

Build a secure national database with historical and current information.

02

Make It Visible

Share suicide trends through transparent, trauma-informed reporting.

03

Drive Change

Equip organizations and governments with evidence to guide prevention and policy.

04

Long-Term Impact

Stronger prevention programs, national reporting standards, reduced stigma, and consistent support for families.

How You Can Help

Partner

Build With Us

Collaborate on creating a secure, national suicide tracking system.

Donate

Support Our Mission

Fund the database that will drive evidence-based prevention.

Support

Spread Awareness

Help bring visibility to this critical mental health issue.

Contact Us

FormSubmit will open in a new tab to complete the submission. The information I receive is your message and your email address to respond to you. I do not store or share it with third parties.

For more information, learn about FormSubmit

Need immediate support?

If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available 24/7. You are not alone.