ENHANCING COMMUNITY STRENGTHS TO RESPOND TO THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES

Offering support to local healers leads to suicide prevention in remote First Nation Communities.

Since 1986, there have been more than 336 completed suicides in northwestern Ontario's First Nation population, the equivalent of one out of every 134 people completing suicide for over two decades.

In one community alone, more than 1% of the population has died from suicide in the past two years. That is the equivalent of 11,500 people in Ottawa or 24,800 people in Toronto, a staggering number given that suicide was estimated to be the cause of death of 3,699 people across Canada in 1998 (Statistics Canada, 2002). The rate of suicide among First Nations youth is five to six times higher than the Canadian average.

While each community is unique and the issues diverse, there are several risk factors linked to suicide in First Nation communities, including: poverty, sexual abuse, racism, physical and mental health issues and ongoing trauma from residential school abuse.

Understanding the complex issues affecting First Nations, Mamow Sha-way-gi-kay-win: The North-South Partnership for Children applies a holistic approach to addressing suicide and mental health issues in communities. All of our efforts are community-driven and led, and explore:

• Economic development opportunities for communities and youth - building hope and job opportunities for the future;
 

• Recreation opportunities - addressing boredom and issues of isolation by supporting summer camps, sporting initiatives and land based activities such as fishing and hunting;
 

• Increased youth participation and empowerment - building the self esteem of First Nation children and youth and supporting their participation in community life;
 

• Efforts to address the housing crisis faced by First Nation communities - without proper housing, all social issues are exacerbated; and
 

• Public Awareness - bringing visibility and awareness to the circumstances, conditions and life experiences of First Nations people in the remote north.

One example of a program designed to strengthen community solutions to the issue of suicide is the 'Heal the Healer' program, first implemented in one community experiencing a crisis of multiple suicides. The program draws upon the children's mental health expertise of Kinark Child and Family Services and is offered in conjunction with other partner organizations. When dealing with a crisis or tragedy, often the front-line workers become overwhelmed and the people responsible for providing help are themselves unable to respond. This program provides much needed counseling and professional support to these cornerstones of the community. Once workers are able to talk about the tragedies, a release of the trauma occurs and they are able to resume their roles as community healers. The community has not had a completed suicide since then.

How can you make a difference?

If you would like to help strengthen First Nation communities by providing youth with recreation programs and opportunities for the future, resources to refurbish housing and schools, and professional mental health support for community healers, please click here to make a donation.