FSIN Vice-Chief Bob Merasty, who holds the health portfolio. Photo courtesy Facebook, FSIN.
Having more than 20 people at suicide risk this past week has taken a toll on local health resources in the Stanley Mission and La Ronge areas.
Three girls between the ages of 12 and 14 committed suicide since last week.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) is calling for resources to these affected communities, effective immediately.
“The bottom line is we need resources to support these communities in implementing their own solutions,” says FSIN Vice-Chief Robert Merasty, who is responsible for the health portfolio.
“We need to respond now, the call to action is now. The La Loche situation happened months ago and nothing has happened, we need to reach out to these young people now.”
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde said deaths like this are happening far too often across the country, with a First Nations suicide rate five times the national average.
The crisis relates to a sense of hopelessness in young ones that needs to be remedied, he said. In Bellegarde’s view, what needs to happen is immediate response and in the long-term a national suicide strategy that’s been worked on with First Nations people.
However, Merasty differs on that topic.
“What we don’t need is another study or box stategy,” says Merasty.
“There is no excuse for delaying investments another day.”
Meanwhile, the province says it’s all hands on deck to deal with the aftermath.
Provincially, Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit said the community has a message out to the parents in relation to speculation about a suicide pact. This, Ottenbreit said, came from a conversation with the health board chair.
“The community’s very attentive and they’re much in contact with a lot of the parents in the area as well to make sure they’re aware of what might be going on in their young people’s lives, checking their phones, checking social media is what he told me they want to do so, to make sure that if there is such a thing that they’re aware of it and they can address it as soon as possible,” he said.
Some of the 20-plus people who are considered at risk of suicide have been sent to Prince Albert and Saskatoon, for psychiatrists to perform risk assessments.
Locally, there is a three-person mental health team at the Emergency department at the La Ronge Health Centre, and the province has arranged for an extra counselor with the youth mental health services department to work with the schools next week.
Those extra supports are being offered by the northern regional health authorities.
Health Canada has paid for a Saskatoon psychologist who came up to Stanley Mission on the weekend. It’s been committed that this help will be available two days a week for the next two months.
The province advises than any youth feeling suicidal or depressed can call 811 any time to talk to a professional about their mental health needs.