Inuit counsellors en route to help Nunavut community in grief
Two young people died by suicide in Arctic Bay over the last week
Nunavut’s community of Arctic Bay is grieving the loss of two young people who died by suicide last week. (Photo courtesy of Changing Earth)
Nunavut-based counsellors are headed to Arctic Bay next week to provide support to the family and friends of young people who died by suicide in the community last week.
The Illisaqsivik Society, a Clyde River-based community wellness agency, will send four counsellors to the north Baffin community from April 1 to April 7, as part of its mobile mental health unit.
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association said in a March 28 release that it made the initial request for emergency counselling services.
“Illisaqsivik’s counsellors work with families and individuals to find healing and develop their strengths,” QIA said in the release.
“Their Community Counsellor Program delivers much-needed services to Inuit by Inuit.”
Illisaqsivik’s counsellors have also provided similar counselling services to Igloolik, Iqaluit and Kimmirut so far in 2019.
In Arctic Bay, community members say that two teens died by suicide within a day of each other last week.
Since the beginning of 2015, the North Baffin community of about 900 has lost 12 residents to suicide.
There is support available at the numbers listed below:
• Kamatsiaqtut Help Line: 1-800-265-3333 (Inuktitut, English)
• Residential school crisis line: 1-866-925-4419 (Inuktitut, English, French)
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or by text at 686868 (English, French)
• First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310 (English, French, Inuktitut upon request)
So sad. My heart goes out to the families. Damn, how do we stop this?