Committee developing strategies to help communities
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Mar 05/01) - In the last two months alone, four Nunavummiut have committed suicide.
"The loss of life and the toll it is taking affects everybody," said Caroline Anawak, a representative from the Department of Health and an expert in the prevention of suicide.
"Our communities are in various stages of grief and bereavement," she said.
A government committee, formed to try and end suicide in Nunavut, met for the first time during a recent blizzard in Iqaluit -- an act that testified to their resolve.
"What's important is that we're formally coming together. It's a major success and everybody wanted to come back."
The committee includes representatives from eight government departments, the coroner's office, one land claims organization, the RCMP, the Federation of Nunavut Teachers and two residents skilled in the delivery of healing circles.
Anawak said the group discussed many issues over the three days, and have arranged to meet again early in April. She added their chance of succeeding is much stronger as a cohesive team.
"We can join forces and complement one another," said Margaret Joyce, a student support co-ordinator with the Department of Education.
Joyce said her department is working beefing up Nunavut's curriculum to help students cope with stressful situations.
The goal is to develop an all-inclusive strategy or set of policies the group can implement at various departmental levels. If the goal is met, it will result in increased awareness of suicide and how to prevent it from happening.
For example, Pauloosie Nuyalia, the assistant director of corrections for the Department of Justice, said his department is working to ensure inmates in the young offenders' facility and the Baffin Correctional Centre are trained in suicide prevention and intervention.
"We hope to give back to the community," explained Nuyalia. "We used to send them back and they had no skills. We want to get the community to understand the person has taken the program and that they can use them in suicide intervention," he said.
"Helping each other is one of the biggest keys."
Susan Palluq Enuaraq, Nuyalia's colleague, said the essence of the committee stemmed from their collective sense of caring.
"Human thought will help in this strategy," she said. "Even though we're all wearing different department hats, our human side is prevailing. We went through a lot of emotions."
Gordy Kidlapik of the Housing Corporation said the meeting changed him and strengthened his resolve to help however he could.
"I came out with a strong inner feeling," he said.
