NUNAVUT - A national youth council is seeking an Inuk youth to sit on its committee to ensure Northerners are being represented when it comes to mental health issues and improving the health and social outcomes of people living with a mental illness.

"We really need someone from the North," said Megan Schellenberg, co-chair of the Youth Council, organized by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

The commission is a non-profit organization that aims to focus national attention on mental health issues. A Youth Council was formed in May 2008 to make sure the youth voice was heard.

At present, 10 youth between the ages of 19 and 29 sit on the council and come from all across the country except from the North.

Schellenberg said the council meets twice a year to discuss strategies and initiatives on how youth who have a mental illness or who have experience with mental illness have overcome struggles they may have had to face. The youth meet via teleconference to discuss ideas and projects they are working on.

"We want to get young people to talk about prevention, create a language that is youth-friendly and to promote resiliency," said Schellenberg.

She said members of the council are working on videos they will put together as part of an anti-stigma campaign for mental health issues as well as suicide prevention.

Suicide rates among Inuit youth are some of the highest in the world, 11 times higher than the rest of Canada, according to Health Canada.

Embrace Life Council president Jesse Mike said she welcomes the idea of an Inuk youth being on this council.

"I think it is important to have all groups of people in Canada represented," she said.

The Embrace Life Council provides training to volunteers, educates the public on suicide issues and raises funds to promote suicide prevention.

Mike said she thinks a youth from Nunavut could raise the issue that mental health services are not available in all communities in the North. She said while everyone should take care of their mental health, each individual has their own way.

"In the communities, each person I think does the best they can with what they have. A lot of it is coping skills and it is about bringing back the resilience and the traditional way," said Mike, referring to working with elders.

She said the majority of the population is now younger and youth bring a different and fresh perspective to the situation.

And a fresh perspective is exactly what Schellenberg said the council is looking for. She said the council plans to connect with youth across the country using social media including Facebook.

"We are looking for a role model for other youth," she said.

When the council first formed, a call was put out to attract Inuit youth, though Schellenberg said there wasn't really a plan during the recruiting process. She said this time the council will take a more targeted approach and connect with groups and organizations such as the Embrace Life Council.

Mike said she knows the interest is there among youth.

"I think a lot of times young people in the communities are intimidated to get involved in things," she said.

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