Rankin hosts Annual suicide prevention gathering
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Mar 07/01) - Four Kivalliq communities joined with people from Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak for the Rankin Inlet Suicide Prevention Workshop and Square Dance this past month.
Residents of Rankin, Baker Lake, Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet also participated.
Susan Pameok has been an alcohol and drug addictions counsellor for the past three years.
Pameok says one of the most positive aspects of the Rankin gathering was that a large number of participants were open about their experiences and feelings.
She says many people still have difficulty being open in an office environment.
"To many people, the gathering was a chance for them to open up as a group or community," says Pameok.
"That made it much easier for them to talk about the issues they were having problems dealing with.
Pameok says it can be very difficult for a person to talk about why suicide became an option to 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.
"A lot of people went on local radio and said the discussions helped them a lot, especially being able to talk with other people facing the same issues, and it was easier for them to talk away from their homes."
Diane Tiktak co-ordinated the Rankin event.
She says funding has become difficult to obtain and communities that wish to attend future events have to start fund-raising on their own.
"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."
About 70 people a day attended the seven-day gathering and Tiktak says she hopes to stay involved with the annual event.
"I have an aunt who committed suicide and I'd like to help other people by taking part in anything that helps prevent suicide.
"I know how it feels to lose a loved one to suicide, and I'm willing to do whatever I can to help others."
