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ARVIAT
A Nunavut mother has been sentenced to five days in jail and two years of probation after encouraging her 17-year-old daughter to commit suicide, the Nunavut Court of Justice ruled in Arviat Jan. 31.

Court heard that the mother of two, 38, made numerous remarks over a period of two months that her daughter kill herself - comments the daughter, who was medevaced south at least once, took to heart. She attempted suicide multiple times during this period - twice immediately after her mother told her to do so.

"The nature of this offence is simply beyond the comprehension of right thinking people," read Justice Susan Cooper's report. "It is only through luck and the work of medical and mental health professionals that the daughter is alive today. While her body might be fully recovered, the psychological and emotional damage is bound to be deep and everlasting."

Concerns arose when the daughter disclosed her mother's comments to a mental health worker. The daughter is now under the care of other family members. Her one-year-old brother will be returned to the mother, who will undergo a Social Services parenting assessment as part of her probation.

The mother cannot be identified due to child protection legislation.

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