We must talk about suicide in Nunavut, says Cape Dorset’s MLA

The recent suicide of a young boy in Cape Dorset has shaken the entire Baffin community, says its MLA. (FILE PHOTO)

On Sept. 26, South Baffin MLA David Joanasie heard news that any politician, family member or friend dreads hearing.

An 11-year-old boy in Cape Dorset, one of the two communities in his riding, had taken his life the previous day.

Joanasie took to the local airwaves that day to talk to constituents and let them know they weren’t alone in their grief.

“It’s a tough issue to talk about publicly,” he said. “But we have to. It’s the only way to take away the stigma.”

“I feel for the family — everybody does,” said Joanasie, who grew up in Cape Dorset. “It affects the whole community, his classmates — the school has felt its whole environment shift.”

As a leader, it’s also hurtful, he said.

Since he was elected last October, Joanasie said he’s tried to raise awareness around the risk of suicide among young Nunavummiut. At 31, Joanasie is still a part of that demographic.

“This is not how we want our society to be,” said the father of four. “We need to take care of our children and show them a better path.”

Joanasie won’t speculate on the circumstances that led the boy to end his life. But he sees a pattern where people who suffer from abuse or mental health issues internalize their emotions and become too intimidated to ask for help.

“It’s a matter of talking the issue out and finding an outlet, whether it’s a family member, a close friend or a social service,” he said. “There are a lot of options out there.”

Unfortunately, too many Nunavummiut see suicide as a viable option when they can’t cope.

Since Nunavut was created in 1999, the territory has lost 434 people to suicide, the vast majority of whom were male.

And 2013 saw the territory’s highest number of suicides, with 45. Two of those were in Cape Dorset, a South Baffin community with a population of about 1,300.

Statistics show that suicide victims in 2013 ranged in age from 11 to 72 although there was no breakdown by age group.

The Government of Nunavut has not yet responded to a request from Nunatsiaq News for the number of suicides in the territory so far in 2014, nor for its reaction to this latest death.

“We just need to get out of this rut,” Joanasie said. “I just want people to know that their lives are worth living.”

Nunavummiut who struggle with suicidal thoughts may contact the Kamatsiaqtut help line in Iqaluit at (867) 979-3333 or toll-free at 1(800) 265-3333, from 7 p.m. to midnight.

The organization also provides a list of other community and territorial resources here.