Less talk, more action needed on suicide

I have a big concern about the suicide rate here in Nunavut. There was a conference just held in Iqaluit, and all that talk will not do any good.

The people and the counsellors are not doing anything when they get back to the communities. When are they planning to do something about it?

It really hurts to see family and friends suffer when a loved one decides to take their own life. They even leave little children behind, not caring what their futures are going to be like, with the hurt they are going to grow up with, the longing for a parent who is just not coming back.

When is this going to end? Is it ever going to end?

There should be things done in the community to prevent suicide. Support groups finally come to help, after a suicide, when they could’ve been more available in the community. They should have public meetings about it, and do something about it, before it is too late.

I’ve been hurt by suicide, lost friends and relatives to it. It really affects you when someone from Nunavut becomes a statistic when someone could have done something about it.

There are people available out there, don’t give up. If you are thinking of suicide, think of how your siblings, parents, grandparents, and friends are going to feel, when they don’t have you around anymore. They will grieve, hurt, suffer, feel pain. When suicide occurs, the whole community grieves, and most of all your loved ones suffer.

If you need help, seek it. There are friends, relatives, nurses, preachers, or talk to anyone you feel comfortable with because life is so precious and everyone was put on earth for a reason.

You may feel at times that no one cares for you, or loves you, or you become pregnant and are scared, or you have done something terribly wrong, and you think there is no other way but suicide.

For the past many years, I’ve had a hard life. I was sexually molested when I was young, lost a parent, got pregnant, raised a child alone. Hardships are here.

But anigurviasaliinnait, just take it one day at a time, and things will get better. Don’t think that suicide is the only way out, because it is not the way out.

I’m not saying I’m perfect because I’m not. I just want people to seek help when they are not happy.

(Name withheld by request)
Pangnirtung