Stanley Mission’s church. Photo courtesy Facebook.
Lac La Ronge Indian Band is facing a suicide crisis unlike anything its current leader has ever seen.
Two girls between the ages of 12 and 14 from Stanley Mission died last week, and a third girl from La Ronge who had been in intensive care in Saskatoon died in recent days. Funerals have already been held for the Stanley Mission girls, and a funeral for the La Ronge girl is scheduled for Saturday.
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson spent time in hospital with the family of the La Ronge girl before her passing.
“It’s really hard to lose three young girls to suicide,” said Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, her voice cracking as she spoke.
“They’re all amazing young ladies from what we learned about them from their families. In the short time that they were here on earth they gave so much to their friends and families.”
Additionally, there were nine suicide attempts in the past week and more than 20 youths – most of the same age and gender – are considered at risk, Cook-Searson said.
The area has a higher suicide rate than average, but there have never been this many young people involved at the same time, she said.
“I think everybody is on edge right now and not knowing when you’re going to get the call and even the parents are worried,” said Cook-Searson.
She lost a sister to suicide years ago, and has a message for the young people not only in Stanley Mission but in the surrounding area.
“When we are going through a dark time in our lives we forget that so many people love us and would be there for us and would support us,” she said.
“Reach out for help because there is help out there. Reach out to your friends, reach out to somebody that you trust, just tell somebody, to know that (you) are loved.”
There has been online speculation about suicide pacts, however, that has not been confirmed. Cook-Searson would not comment on the method in which the girls died, and said the RCMP is involved in the crisis response.
For many, every night since the first suicide in Stanley Mission on Thursday has been sleepless. The local band councillors, youth centre staff, and health staff mobilized quickly, and the schools held a debriefing with students that day.
When news of the second suicide came in on Friday afternoon, “we were all in shock,” Cook-Searson said.
Calls were made to bring in crisis response teams and Stanley Mission opened many community spaces 24 hours a day to offer support.
“Some of our youth were still attempting suicide so we were trying to stabilize the situation that we were in,” Cook-Searson said.
Community members held a candlelight vigil on Friday night, which was the first of many gatherings in Stanley Mission since the traumatic events.
It’s been a difficult balancing act of making sure the youths are safe, while mourning the loss of the three girls.
Parents are being urged to keep an eye on their children and to make sure they know there is help.
Health professionals from Prince Albert Grand Council, the health region, LLRIB, and Health Canada are on the ground offering services around the clock.
There are four mental health therapists taking shifts so they’re available 24 hours a day.
On Thursday night, there were four fires lit in Stanley Mission to represent the east, west, north and south to protect the community and the youth who are hurting.
NOTE: MBC will not be naming the youths who have died without permission from the families.