An expert on Indigenous mental health describes the suicide rate in the province’s north as a crises.
Dr. Caroline Tait says the solutions must come from the communities themselves, with input from indigenous youth. But she also urges governments to commit financial help.
Doctor Tait is an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan. She is also co-leader of a mental health hub that is gathering and coordinating data on mental health issues including suicide, depression and post- traumatic stress disorder.
She says the suicide rate in northern Saskatchewan is three times the provincial average and it shows no sign of going down.
”This is a mental health crises that is happening and why are we not responding as a society?” she asked. “If this was any other kind of illness we would have a much bigger response and that is the problem with mental health.”
Dr. Tait credits the front line workers for doing an incredible job with limited resources. She says they need more support from both the federal and provincial governments.
“What we need is for governments to come in and understand that the solutions come from the communities. When we are there working with the community as researchers we are there to support them and their ideas and what they want,” she said.
Dr. Tait says the mental health hub will be working closely with First Nations communities. It is also in the process of forming provincial partnerships and applying for grants and funds.
The hub is part of a partnership with several Canadian universities and research groups as well as the Canadian Depression and Intervention Network.