Inquest begins into high suicide rate
'We need a change in the way Nunavut is handling suicide,' says presiding coroner
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, September 14, 2015
NUNAVUT
The long-awaited discretionary inquest into suicide in Nunavut, promised by the Office of the Coroner in January 2014, begins at the Nunavut Court of Justice in Iqaluit Sept. 14.
Chief coroner Padma Suramala called the inquest in response to the 45 suicides in the territory in 2013. That was the highest number of suicides in one year since the territory's creation in 1999.
"This marked an increase in the rate of suicide in the territory, where the rate is already generally very high, and much higher than the national rate, especially among young men aged 15 to 24," said Sheldon Toner, counsel for the coroner.
Garth Eggenberger, the chief coroner of the Northwest Territories who is presiding over the inquest, said an inquest like this "is not normally done, but it's allowed under the legislation.
"Really this is bringing forward to the public more information about suicide. It appears that something is going on. We don't know what it is. We're trying to get something going so that everybody's talking about it. That's really the purpose of this. Get it out in the public and get something happening," said Eggenberger.
Revealing underlying social conditions
Besides revealing underlying social conditions in Nunavut that lead to a high rate of suicide, Toner said the inquest is "to encourage those who have been working in suicide prevention, including the partners of the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy." The suicide prevention strategy, already operating under a one-year extension, lapsed March 31 and it's unclear what, if any, successes have come of it. The strategy and action plan were created as a result of a partnership formed in 2008 between the Government of Nunavut (GN), Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit (Embrace Life Council), Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) and the RCMP.
A much-referenced evaluation was expected by the end of March and was the reason for the extension of the strategy last year.
That evaluation is expected to be presented as evidence during the inquest and Toner says "we will be asking the suicide strategy partners questions arising from that evaluation."
Eggenberger will hear two representative cases on the first day of the inquest, after a jury of six people is selected from a pool of 40 people.
"Two families have agreed to participate in the inquest and share the experience of the deaths of their family members. That will give the inquest actual context. From that point it will be a more systemic review," said Toner.
That systemic review will include witnesses representing Inuit organizations, many Government of Nunavut departments, the RCMP, Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit (Embrace Life Council), and the Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line. Three experts in the field of suicide prevention will also share their perspectives.
"We have a high level of commitment from all these organizations to participate," said Toner. "We're hoping they will come away from this process encouraged and with new energy to pursue suicide prevention."
Toner also said members of the public who might have further evidence to provide can participate by calling the Office of the Chief Coroner in Iqaluit.
Sept. 22 has been set aside for public input, provided it is relevant and does not repeat testimony already included in the inquest.
"Given the nature of (the inquest) and the complexity of the issues, I think it would be fair to the public to invite them to come forward," said Eggenberger.
Because of the sensitive nature of the inquest, Toner says protections have been put in place "to ensure that there's no trauma created by the process and that there is mental health service available to witnesses and participants in the inquest."
Suramala said mental health support has been put in place "before and after the inquest for the safety and well-being in the community" through community health centres.
"And we have three to four mental health workers at the courthouse supporting all the witnesses and other participants during this inquest. Talking about suicide is a very sensitive and emotional subject. I encourage all Nunavummiut to share your painful memories for a better future for Nunavut," she said.
The inquest runs until Sept. 25, at which point the six-member jury will be expected to provide their recommendations.
"This is only the beginning of the change," said Eggenberger. "We need a change in the way Nunavut is handling suicide. We need to change the way people are looking at suicide. And the more that we talk about it, the more we try and do things, hopefully we can reduce the number of suicides. They're just too high."
