Inuit values and beliefs key to dealing with suicide
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Feb 26/01) - The message is clear: suicide is not the Inuit way.
To get that message to everyone, especially those at risk, the Nunavut government has started a campaign.
| Nunavut Facts:
- 4 suicides |
The effort follows an ongoing initiative that has led to hundreds of residents being trained in suicide prevention over the last two years.
About $1 million has been spent on the publicity campaign and the training initiative.
Health Minister Ed Picco released the news last Monday.
"The key messages are that everyone matters; everyone is important; Inuit values and beliefs are the key to survival; you can and will survive your problems; there is help; your family and community need you; we all need to reach out to those at risk," said Picco.
This campaign differs from prior government efforts because it is run by people in the communities not outside professionals.
The emphasis will be on encouraging youth to talk about their problems as well as encouraging as many community members as possible to seek training.
"The Nunavut government cannot stop suicide from happening."
"What we can do is be here with intervention programs and services and counselling and begin to strengthen our families at the local level," said Picco.
"That's where we'll have the most success with suicide prevention programs."
Professional mental health workers will also be going to the 11 communities, with the highest rate of suicide.
Caroline Anawak, an employee of the Department of Health and an expert on suicide prevention, said they developed the campaign with traditional Inuit survival in mind.
"How can you, if you know those coping values, do anything but survive, not give up, not quit, be resilient, be resourceful, improvise, be patient -- use all of the coping mechanisms that got people through the toughest times and the toughest environment in the world," said Anawak.
