Opening up about suicide prevention
Naujaat students begin to talk more about embracing life
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
NAUJAAT
Students at Tusarvik School took to the streets to embrace life in Naujaat this past month.
The community walk was the final event in a week of school activities commemorating national Suicide Prevention Day.
Tusarvik vice-president Julia MacPherson said the school has been holding the activities for the past four years.
She said the students eagerly anticipate the chance to have their voices heard in an effort to persuade others to enjoy life and all it brings.
"The weather wasn't the best for awhile, and I was away for surgery, so we were a little late in holding the walk on Sept. 18," said MacPherson.
"All the teachers either have their own lessons or I provide them, and they talk to the students about embracing life.
"In some of the older grades, they'll talk to the students about suicide prevention, but with the younger kids, they'll talk about what they're happy about in life, what kinds of things they enjoy and who they can talk to if they're sad."
The Tusarvik teachers use the lessons for the entire week, and students, from kindergarten to Grade 12, work on a poster or a banner.
MacPherson said an assembly is held in the gym on the day of the community walk.
She said during the assembly, she addresses the students on who they can talk to, or approach, if they're feeling down or struggling with an issue.
"The kids are also shown a few videos that are made in Iqaluit and distributed by the Embrace Life Council. We always receive support from the community for this event. This year the RCMP led the walk in their truck, and we had representatives from community justice and the health centre take part.
"We play the song Feel the Inukness, and that gets the kids all happy and excited as they start off on their walk."
MacPherson said she's seen positive benefits from Tusarvik holding the week of activities for the past four years.
She said the biggest benefit is the topic is now being talked about in the school.
"It's such a serious topic that the students need to
know it's OK to talk about it and seek help if they need it.
"It takes a little more effort to explain what it's all about to the kids in the younger grades.
"We try to put a positive spin on the event with the message of enjoying life but you can tell there's students in the older grades who have had family, friends or someone they know who, unfortunately, lost their life due to suicide.
"We tell them it's OK to think about the people they've lost on the day of the walk but they should also be thinking about the positives in their lives."
