Stanley Mission’s church. Photo courtesy Facebook.
This week, there’s been a troubling reminder of the ongoing issue of suicide attempts in the Stanley Mission area.
On Tuesday, there were two suicide attempts in Stanley Mission, Health Canada confirms.
It’s a community that lost a 12-year-old girl just four months ago, and Stanley Mission is one of many northern Saskatchewan communities that have been struggling after six girls between the ages of 10 and 14 committed suicide about four months ago.
Just two weeks ago, hundreds of northern youths between the ages of 10 and 18 attended the “Ignite the Life” suicide prevention conference in Saskatoon. The event inspired a number of young people to speak up about their own dark thoughts and to seek help. At the end, attendees signed a “life pact,” in which they promised to contact someone if they’re ever thinking of self harm.
In a statement, Health Canada says the feds are “deeply concerned, and committed to supporting Stanley Mission to ensure they get the support they need to respond.”
Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson will not be providing comment beyond a brief statement, which reads as follows:
“Suicide is a public health issue in many Indigenous communities across Canada. The Lac La Ronge Indian Band continues to work in coordination with its communities and partners in support of youth. Services are available within all our communities.”
Further to that, Health Canada says its partnerships with organizations in the community currently provide seven mental health therapists to counsel at risk youth, seven days a week.
The feds say they’re committed to renewing that funding so crisis counselling services remain in place once the new fiscal year begins.
Health Canada and Minister for Indigenous Affairs Carolyn Bennett have been under fire recently, after the deaths of two girls in Ontario’s Wapekeka reserve.
Bennett has admitted it was a mistake for her government to deny a plea from Wapekeka for help to combat a suicide pact. The denial was made on the basis that the middle of the federal budget cycle was a difficult time to provide emergency funding.
LLRIB reminds people of the following health lines:
Emergency 911, First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310, Kid’s Help Line: 1-800-668-6868; and Piwapan Crisis Line in La Ronge: 306-425-4090.