Seven-day suicide prevention workshop
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Mar 12/01) - Diane Tiktak knows what it feels like to lose a loved one to suicide.
"I have an aunt who committed suicide and I'd like to help other people by taking part in anything that helps prevent suicide," said Tiktak who is from Rankin Inlet.
Tiktak has been doing her part to help by co-ordinating the recent Rankin Inlet Suicide Prevention Workshop and Square Dance.
People from Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak, Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet gathered for the event last month.
Tiktak added about 70 people a day attended the seven-day gathering.
Susan Pameok, an alcohol and drug addictions counsellor in Rankin, says one of the positive things about the event was the large number of people who were open about their experiences and feelings.
"To many people, the gathering was a chance for them to open up as a group or community," says Pameok.
Pameok says it can be very difficult for a person to talk about why suicide became an option for them or why they think about suicide.
"The suicide prevention gathering gives them the opportunity to feel that their voice is being heard, rather than their words just being written down in somebody's file.
More money
Tiktak says funding has become difficult to obtain and communities wanting to attend future events should start fund-raising.
"We felt really bad Repulse Bay could not make the trip, especially since this whole event started there, but we were with them in spirit," says Tiktak. "We also missed the people from Hall beach and Iglulik."
