Following the loss of several lives due to suicide, a First Nation 800 km north of Winnipeg declared a state of emergency and requested access to mental health support.
Three people died by suicide within the last two weeks, the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) wrote in the declaration of the state of emergency on Tuesday. It said that made for four lives lost to suicide in the last month, and a total of five people dying by suicide within the past six months.
“Our community is deeply grieving, and the pain is being felt across every family, every generation, and every part of our Nation,” the NCN wrote from Nelson House, Man.
“Chief and council are expressing serious concern about the risk of further loss of life, noting that suicide clusters can create a domino effect within communities already experiencing layered trauma and grief,” the declaration continued.
In addition to the deaths, the community reported an uptick in suicidal ideation and self-harm, which was said to be straining emergency services in the area.
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“NCN’s response will be rooted in the teachings of mithopimatiswin (living a good life), emphasizing holistic wellness through cultural practices, ceremony, and community connection,” the declaration explained, calling on federal, provincial and First Nation partners for assistance.
The nation is asking for mobile mental health crisis response teams to visit the community, access to culturally-aware mental health assistance — with specialized support for youth — and long-term investments to aid community healing and prevent additional deaths.
“To experience so many losses in such a short time is beyond devastating. We are currently exploring how our organization can best support NCN during this difficult time,” the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth told Global News in a statement. The group said they stand by the nation and called on the Manitoba government to ensure culturally appropriate supports are available provincewide.
A spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) said there are two groups, the Manitoba Keewatinow Okimakanak Crisis Response Team and the Keewatin Tribal Council, currently available in the community for assistance.
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“On an ongoing basis, the department has one mental health therapist who provides counselling support Monday to Friday to Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation,” explained ISC. In the last fiscal year, the NCN was said to have received over $1 million to fund mental wellness programs from the service.
NCN recommended members and others in need of support to contact:
- NCN Family & Community Wellness Centre: 204-484-2341
- NCN Family & Community Wellness Centre Counseling on-call number: 431-354-1270
- Klinic Crisis Line (24/7): 204-786-8686 or 1-888-322-3019
- Hope for Wellness Helpline (First Nations & Inuit): 1-855-242-3310
- Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566
- Lifeline: 1–800-273-8255 or free text 988
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency, please call 911 for immediate help.
For immediate mental health support, call 988. For a directory of support services in your area, visit the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention at suicideprevention.ca.
Learn more about preventing suicide with these warning signs and tips on how to help.
Wow, life there is that boreing?
An idle mind is the devil’s playground. Give these people a purpose …have goals and strife to reach them. As others mentioned nothing to do, no where to go, to much time on their hands is just a recipe for disaster. These isolated reserves are detrimental on the minds and mental health is blooming…time for change
It’s the isolation. Today’s youth know there’s a big world out there, and want to be a part of it. We’ve been hearing about these issues for years all over northern Canada. The “old ways” are not for everyone.
When all your bills are paid by the government and you have nothing to do and all day to do it, and you don’t have to work or make yourself better I would think hopelessness and suicide would be not surprising.
The Nisichawayasihk reserve does not have the right to call a state of emergency. They can ask for one to be called. However, as you can see by the counseling hotline, they do have mental health services. The note is that they are a drain on provincial mental health services.
What the article does not mention, is what started this grieving. Most often it is nothing to do, and all day to do it in. Money available to buy drugs and alcohol.
What it needs are jobs, and the willingness to work. Or the willingness to move to find work, like every other young person on the family farm that the eldest inherits, they must move, to do something else, somewhere else.
Demanding to stay where there is no work, and refusing to do work is just not a solution.