Nunavik prepares to take action on suicide prevention strategy
First workshop sets out goals and path toward putting plan in place
In September, community members in Kuujjuaq sent lanterns up into the night sky in memory of loved ones, to mark Suicide Prevention Week. In November, various organizations in Nunavik gathered to discuss an action plan for the Nunavik suicide prevention strategy. (Photo by Elaine Anselmi)
Earlier this month, representatives from organizations across Nunavik gathered in Kuujjuaq to try to address the high rate of suicide in the region.
“What gave me a lot of encouragement was that these participants were very eager to start something, they were very ready to start something concrete in their own organization or department or role,” said Annie Nulukie, the suicide crisis intervention team coordinator for the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services.
Led by the health board, this work includes the school board, the housing board, Kativik Regional Government and Makivik Corp., among 15 organizations in total.
There are five priorities outlined in the Nunavik suicide prevention strategy, which all of these groups are now working on putting into action.
They are the following: seeing the healthy development of children and youth, a comprehensive mental health support system, healing from historical trauma and grief, the use of Inuit knowledge, and Inuit-led solutions that bring all of Nunavik together.
“The action plan is going to be a response to the strategy,” said Nulukie.
Some new actions identified during the workshop include developing a program through the school board to train and certify Inuit caseworkers in suicide prevention, said Nulukie. They’re also developing a crisis intervention protocol to guide frontline workers, creating sexual abuse intervention teams and hosting healing sessions in communities across Nunavik.
Other measures are more aspirational.
“We find it hard to reach out and appeal to youth, so we can’t have a concrete measure for youth right now,” said Nulukie. “Instead of not including that important component, we decided to start from scratch and determine how to reach out and work with youth.”
There is no specific intervention team planned yet for youth, she said, but there is a plan to take a step back and look at how they can better appeal to the younger generation.
The development of a suicide prevention strategy for Nunavik began in August 2018. This followed the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s focus on managing the high rate of suicide among Inuit.
The rate of suicides has increased in Nunavik since 2013. From 2017, the rate was 154.3 per 100,000 people, above the rates in both Nunavut and the Inuvialuit Region. In Nunatsiavut, the rate is 200 per 100,000, though it did decline from 2013 to 2017.
Across Canada, the average suicide rate is 11.3 per 100,000.
For Nunavik, a big part of the equation is recognizing the historical traumas that have contributed to the high suicide rate, said Nulukie.
Nunavik’s suicide prevention strategy states: “Historically, Inuit did not have elevated rates of suicide. Suicide rates among Inuit first increased in the 1970s, among the first generation of young people to grow up in settlements, similar to the experience in other Inuit regions.”
This first action plan workshop for the strategy, held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, looked at what can be done over the next few years, while a second workshop in 2020 will look beyond that at what could be introduced in three to five years.
It’s critical to be realistic, Nulukie said of the strategy, and have realistic timelines for their action plan.
There is already funding in place for this work through the health board, said Josée Lévesque, a board communications representative. Should that funding come up short down the road, she said, having a plan in place, with objectives and measures clearly set out, will make getting additional funding that much easier.
Right now, those who attended the workshop are looking at their own organizations and whether the priorities of the suicide prevention strategy are met within them.
Nulukie said they are also recognizing what is already being done in terms of suicide prevention, including programs through the health and housing boards and other groups, such as on-the-land camps and training for frontline workers.
With so many organizations around the table, Nulukie said it was important that everyone was ready to get to work.
The overwhelming response from all parties was that they’d spent enough time dwelling on challenges—they wanted to talk solutions.
“What’s also an exciting part for me too is we’re starting to finally have connections between different organizations and different departments,” said Nulukie. “That’s a big part. When we’re working in isolation, we’re less effective. The more we work in unity, the stronger we are.”
If you are in distress and need help, you can reach the following resources:
• Kamatsiaqtut Help Line: 1-800-265-3333
• Crisis line for former residential school students: 1-866-925-4419
• Kids Help Line: 1-800-668-6868 or text 686 868
• Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855 242-3310
On the one hand increased collaboration and connectedness between organizations has the intuitive feel of a system toward greater efficacy. This is a commonly held belief and there can be and are benefits to this. Conversely, we should consider the evidence that a broader the net and more voices at the table does not always provide this result. Beware of inertia, groupthink and an averaging down from what can be the most creative thinking and innovative ideas toward something that is simply more palatable to easy to accept by less creative and resourceful minds.
This is the same old stuff. Its the same old blind leads the blind over the cliff. Im not going to pretend to be nice about this. Its too serious to be nice, and gather together to agree that we think we know something. We know nothing. This is the old routine of meet and greet and agree, rather than rocking the boat to get to shore. In these workshops, theres nothing but agreeing and patting each other on the back, and licking up to nothingness. It becomes a blame game, without any insight. Blaming pass trauma, because everyone seems to be comfortable with that kind of blame. Its wrong, its cheap! Its what keeps us from a solution. Its all about organizations and committees staffed with incompetence and narrow mindedness and uneducated approaches. Until we admit that we failed our young people in raring practices, we will go nowhere but down. Stop the blame! And tell the truth that we are lazy, and unmotivated. We must start loving our children. It starts at home. No meet and greet workshop staffed by uneducated people is going to solve that.
When every time suicide is in discussion, more and more youth are into suicide minds, and we get to hear more suicides. and yet, when that Grizzlies movie was produced, many suicides took over again after it traveled to the communities, it may had happy endings, but did those young people suicided after watching the movie get some help from out of it?! “No!” And we lost one of our best Inuk rapper from Salluit, he even met that guy who was part of the Grizzlies production.
Yes, we need to discuss in our own family situations, not from outside, we need to start loving our own children, recollect why the children are hurt, we need to look at ourselves, our behaviour is being tested by our own children.
Suicide don’t just come in that familiar package we heard about, like hanging, and gun shots. Nope, suicide also comes in the way of Atv and snowmobile accidents on our roads too. Nunavik is notorious for such suicidal behaviours. The community of kuujjuaq as it grows and develops , with extended road structures are fattening up the cemetery big time. Its death after death. Funeral after funeral. Theres no insight, no concern. Its business as usual. So, then , tell me how organizations are making a difference by having workshops? No way. If you dont own the problem in your day to day living, you don’t own it at all. These meetings are the biggest jokes among inuit. People are either asleep, drunk, stoned or stupid to think that this is a workshop issue. This is a problem of disrespect for love, kindness, compassion. This is peopke existing, without knowing what life is all about. People are dying, without knowing what living is about. And its the committee and organizations that are kindling the flame of destruction. The government plays a big part, but the real culprit are within the peop,e. They live and take away from their own.
If there’s a god, please help us as i read the article. Why is it we have people doing the workshops that are makers of family breakdowns. Ive been to these workshops, and its horrible. Those leading The groups are from divorced families, as by their own making. They have sons in jail or breaking the law. We all know them well. We have no confidence in them, as they are the ones partying all night long. Until we see better trusting ,people at these workshops, we will not participate.
A belief in god is genuinely part of the problem in my opinion. It distorts a person’s sense of agency and by giving them an external locus of control leaves them unprepared to face lifes stresses head on, even worse it makes them believe they are subject to the whims of an arbitrary force that they can neither fully understand nor communicate with. To truly gain a meaningful sense of power over our lives we need to shed these fantasies that have held us back and distorted our image of ourselves and the world.
As I read over the.forme ccomments I really am filled with many mixed emotions. This has become.such a serious problem in the north and at this point it’s time.to make more concrete actions with people and organizations that are willing to do conctete work. That was the main point of our meetings. Each organization has.identified an action that they will implement. Slowly Inuit are becoming more and more mobalized and taking on the work required to work tnrough this. As the chairperson of the Regional Suicide Prevention Committee I can assure you that we have been worki g very hard over the past years to implement more services inNunavik. Yes, I.agree it’s an overwhelming situation that we are in. The meetimg/workshops we had with all organizations.Is another.step forward with actual real concrete solutions that can be implemented in our communities. We are always very happy to hear any.suggestion from our fellow Inuit. One thing for sure is tnat we can’t stop working towards the common goal of positive change. We have lost too many people to not make this our priority at school, amongst our peers, and especially at home. We must have a dialogue that we can use when discussing this with someone who maybe at risk. I encourage anyone who would like to be involved in the solution to contact me at Tullativik Health Center. We have lost too many of our beautiful peoe to be negative about the efforts that are being done to prevent suicide. Any suggestions are more than welcome. If anyone has any questions concerning the work that has been done or what we are planning in the future or would like to be.more involved feel free.to contact me.
All the meetings and workshops are failing to address the root causes of suicide within our communities. These workshops cater only to those who go for a therapeutic release of emotions, that’s fine for those attending, but the goals of the workshops are limited to just that, not addressing the issue of which workshops could do if organized properly. The root causes are within dysfunctional family and dysfunctional aspects of community. We need to support wellness and healthy living within the family. Show people the truth about what destruction alcohol and drugs are doing. Encourage a desire in our children for education, and have them want to be in school. Stop this phenomenon waste of money on meetings and travel that gains nothing , but putting distance in families. People traveling continuously, away from family valves, falsely believing that great things are happening. It simple an empowerment to families to live a good life. Inuit had that, and still got it. But, it’s all mistakingly covered with wasted money, alcohol and drug abuse. Poor decisions. And put a stop to the gambling within the communities, it’s an illness, not entertainment. Every few days gambling trucks cars boats, motors, 15 thousand dollars, it’s sick. There. That’s my 10 cents of opinion, based on my observation.
sivunirlutitaujutuqaujugut qallunaat pijaanut!
yes, we have poor future because of Qallunaat’s distruction to our culture.
Its wrong to suggest that Inuit were forced into drinking from the south. Thats insulting to Many Inuit to be labelled as weak and naive. Thats very wrong. Inuit wasn’t forced to drink alcohol. And are you trying to say because it was there Inuit used it in a weak way. Not so. It was a choice then, and is a choice now too. Don’t put Inuit down so low by suggesting that it was forced, just like they were little kids.
Makes me wonder when it comes the gambling, bingos and other large price items that make people crave for in games. How Isuarsivik wellness center is considering such addictive behaviours within our communities. I would like to hear from someone at the center, as to what kind of awareness, and what involvement the center can take towards that type of addiction? I think we are under estimating the impact of gambling behaviours. We consider them harmless, and a form of entertainment. Of which it is, but not a healthy entertainment in such small populations with such large inflated prices. We could say that gambling is far better choice of addiction than alcohol! But thats not so. My point is: addiction in many forms are a major contribution to the progression of wellness in our communities. And its in the unwell that helps drive the lack of motivation in the population that are at risk. Family incomes are drained into all these addictions. Low income means poverty. Poverty affects well being.
as I get to hear even healthy well maintained, heavy job takers are gambling as well, all this gambling came from southerner’s style activities.
blaming framing who is doing what, is not healthy either, its starts from a person’s decision whether which activities to follow?
look at yourself too sometimes, instead of looking of others!
So you say, someone is blaming you, but are you also blaming them.? That what you are trying to say is oxymoron. You say stop the blame , in the same sentence you are blaming.
Pointing out some unhealthy behaviours, doesn’t make you unhealthy. It’s not judgemental to point out such ridiculous behaviours, it’s actually the right thing to do. You see that’s a problem in Nunavik, people don’t want to admit that there’s many unhealthy behaviours. They keep silent, and stay unhealthy.
Thank you all for trying. It is so hard to explain. Even medical and psychological knowledgd cannot get this matter right. Best societies have this problem.
This is much deeper than we can diagnose. It is a problem with the human soul. Even Christians have this problem. The answer is in the soul and spirit, where human worth is fundamentally defined.
Talking about gambling and bingo. Not to say that these addictions are the cause of suicide, but these behaviours are in the recipe that helps the issues of suicide to remain status quo. In other words they contribute in that they help weaken the societal standards. Big ticket items being gambled don’t match Nunavik’s struggle with housing issues and food security. A message is made to the world that we are struggling with poverty, but have all this wealth to give away via gambling. It’s actually a stumbling block to solution in our struggle. How can we be taken seriously with theses conflicting ways.
How can anyone outside of your community send assistance or help?
What is the best community contact address (Mailing address/email)?
I can also bookmark this web page and check back for any messages.
The communities need as much help as can be. The people are struggling with the issues, but not able to do anything productive, constructive or otherwise. Not enough educated people doing the educated jobs. Many running the workshops are bearly high school grads, let alone some type of professional training or degrees in these fields. Education seems to be the biggest set back towards any professional approach at least. Much help needed. Plus the communities needed to be put in touch with similar communities elsewhere that are doing well. They need to be shown that loving your children pays big dividends in life.
Let prove that educated makes a better person. At least less likely to commit suicide.
The problem is not proverty either. There are millions ln abject proverty, who struggle every day to live and not die.
People with strong will, a sense of purpose, and personal truth or integrity are better able to die by other than suicide.
Inuit used to struggle hard to live and make sure their children lived. Yes, poor and educated and hurting about the lives of their children.
A suggestion: If there is Internet access please consider Distance Learning Education, there are many programs K through 12, College, and GED.
Is there a tribal center building available for groups of interested people who would want to pursue educational programs via the Internet?
There are several free and low cost programs available, I would be honored and happy to help set up such programming for your people.
Every society on earth as far as I know, are experiencing some suicides here and there. The difference is the numbers that are prevalent in Nunavik. That’s the concern, the number of suicides. With theses numbers, there’s not just an individual crisis, but a regional crisis. That means there’s something really unhealthy in the society. There seems to be blaming in the wrong places. With so much suicides, there’s got to be lots of guilty people living amongst us. I think, it’s just poor parenting, combined with poor leadership in the region. Kids have no one and nothing to look up to or model after. All they see are drunk, stoned, family and community members. Look around the streets at night and you see little children out and up to no good. They should either be in bed, or at least safely at home. Many are out of the house because of partying by adults. Many are hungry and cold. That’s a day to day thing! And as the kids grows! The kid get more and more hopeless. So the cause of suicide is very unhealthy relationship between adults and children. Just find a place in the country with a healthy relationship between kids and adults, and follow that concept, and within a few years suicide will be no more.
Suicide in terms of individual crisis is basically an individual issue. But when suicide comes in the form of multiple individuals over and over, its causes are broader than the issues of a poor coping mechanism within the heart and soul, and mind of one person struggling. Suicide in how we are witnessing the high numbers may not be suicide per say , but is homicide from the evils and bad behaviour of many in the society. Homicide disguise as suicide, meaning the behaviours of others in society are causing people to take their life, but with such pressures, as the ones dying haven little choice due to those pressures, imposed by family members, friends, peers, bullying, on and on. We need to shift our focus away from suicide and think in terms of homicide instead. We all know that we are so far getting nowhere with our current interpretations. So lets focus on homicide, as a different way to understand how homicide is manifested.
Many , and most of the suicides are caused from some type of abuse. Be it sexual, physical or psychological. It’s time, the community starts dealing with the perpetrators. Report them to the police, because most times, they are known within families, and friends, and workplace, schools. Start speaking out against them, get them in jail, and out of the communities forever. It’s the silence and denial that helps keep the suicides going. Let’s stop it now. Ask yourself , what am I doing to help.
There seems to be many people who are experts on the issue of suicide in Nunavik that they are able to make these kind of comments. I wonder if they actually ever step up to get involved in any initiatives or prevention activities in their community. Have they ever volunteered to learn more about how to recognize signs and help people who may be at risk?
Its one thing to criticize, but being negative and not offering any solutions can be very demoralizing for all those people that are doing their best to make a difference.
Now, making comments, is often seen as going against the grid. Like you’re not suppose to make comments because comments can tell the truth, which many people don’t want to hear about. There are many people doing a good job towards helping to prevent suicide. The people i want to congratulate are the ones who are doing a good job raising children. Those that are not abusing alcohol and drugs, and those who don’t spend rent money and food money on alcohol and drugs. Those who never sexually abuse. These are my heroes. They are so busy doing whats right, they have little time left over in a day to volunteer, but they do so anyway! Even if its in a small way. Oh, yes, we have experts all right, they’re traveling and in meetings all day long, partying all night long, while their kids are left alone.
If you read some of the comments carefully, you will see that solutions are offered within. The solution is: raise your children with love and respect. Don’t abuse them. Stop abusing alcohol and drugs. The society is saturated with abuse. Do your part to contribute by being a good person, look after your family. Raising children with dignity and love! Will likely produce citizens that will love life, not hate it, and want to die. Its really not that hard to do. There thats my contribution, as I volunteer my comments to help.