IQALUIT
The Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line is a voice on the other end of a telephone line when you need it most, and after seeing how many people need the service, Mark Aspland came up with an idea for how he - and others - can help keep the help line answering that need.

Iqaluit photographer Mark Aspland's images, including this one of Northern Lights, are now available as stock photography at nunavutimages.com. Proceeds go to the Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line. - photo courtesy of Mark Aspland

"Moving here in September 2013, I have learned a lot about suicide in the North and feel the rate of suicide is overwhelming," stated Aspland, a videographer at Atiigo Media, in an e-mail interview. "I would like to sell my images in hopes to raise money and awareness to help with this problem."

He turned his website - nunavutimages.com - into a stock video and photography website using images he has taken of Iqaluit and Apex. His photos sell for $10 each, and videos will be available soon, with proceeds going to the help line.

Buyers can use the images for personal or professional purposes.

"Downloaded images can be printed, framed, shared online, or used for presentations," he said. "Video is for personal or professional projects."

He hopes the site will grow with images from other communities and from other contributing photographers. The site contains only images from 2015 so far, and content will stay fresh as the seasons change, he said.

"I hope the project will become successful enough to donate to other charitable organizations around Nunavut," he said. "I encourage people who are unfamiliar with Nunavut to learn about the beauty and the issues that affect those who live here."

First, he's focusing on mental health, hence his support of the help line.

"Mental wellness is very important to me and I would like to help others," he said. "I care for the well-being of people and thought I could create awareness for people in the south about the mental health and wellness of Nunavummiut.

"It's hard seeing people and loved ones suffering. If mental wellness can be achieved in the communities, then I hope everyone will benefit."

Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line founder and executive director Sheila Levy expressed gratitude.

"There are many ways to support the help line, and Mark's images will bring in much needed financial resources," Levy said. "We are grateful that he has learned about our service and wants to help, and hope that the images sell well."

"I believe the Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut help line is a great organization," Aspland said. "Well trained staff, very caring people. I feel when you are in that suffering state, and you want to talk to someone, but at the same time keep it quiet to others you know, some people like to talk to someone anonymously and confidentially.

"The help line may be the first contact people have with someone who understands."

Aspland does not have a target dollar figure for his fundraising project. He said the support in the early launch days has been "quite strong."