WARNING: This story contains some distressing details about suicide
Annie Nuktie has lost several friends and family for suicide during the past year, the most recent is her nephew in November.
“He was a good child, he had many things for him and left, so,” said Nuktie.
The following month, another teenager in Umiujaq, who, took his life.
In a town of just over 500 people, any death affects the entire community.
Mina Rita Niviaxie is the local coordinator of the Youth House. It is also the cousin of the teenager who died in November.
From those deaths, he has noticed that less young people appear in the center.
“But when they do, they approach me and talk about ‘how you feel about the situation,” he said.
That dialogue, he said, is crucial to save lives.
Suicide rates are decreasing in Quebec. The last report of the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) shows an annual decrease of 1.3 percent since 2004 throughout the province.
Nunavik rates have also decreased, but are still 12 times higher than the provincial average, and men are at greater risk.
Historically, the Inuit in Canada had relatively low suicide rates. But they have increased dramatically since the 1980s.
Violence, misuse of substance, intergenerational trauma and social inequalities are among some of the factors involved, according to a study published in the International Journal of Circumpolar Health.
Youth struggles
Tuniq noiuruvik, general director of the Association of the Nunavik Youth House, said its centers are safe places for young people.
In small towns in the region, these centers are one of the few places where young people can connect with each other and forget about their problems. But some centers are aging and some villages do not have a center.
Noiuruvik said there are many reasons why young people could be fighting.
“Is there any violence at home? Do they come to youth houses to be safe? Are they hungry or have they eaten?” said.
Annie Nulukie specializes in suicide prevention at the Regional Board of Health and Social Services of Nunavik. She said there is no “magic finger” to solve the problem.
“It is an intimidating issue to enter, so it is difficult for us to find ways to attract work force so that it really investigates it, but we are trying,” he said.
She said Nunavimmiut is still marked by intergenerational trauma, and people are more isolated today. That can be weakening for the mental health of a person, he said, and goes against the Inuit values to take care of each other.
“The way we survived was that we had a really strong relationship … you weren’t alone, but you were part of a great family. And that’s how they take care of each other,” he said.
Lack of resources
Jasmine John is the deputy director of Psychosocial Services in Kativik Llisarniliriniq, Nunavik School Board. Every day, she sees the face of the youth of struggles.
“There have been so many suicides since I have been in Nunavik and I can’t get used to. I can’t normalize it,” he said.
The remoteness of the 14 Nunavik villages, which are flying communities, hinders access to the services offered to other cheese.
The personnel retention, he said, becomes a problem that leads to a rotating door of workers and inconsistent support for young people.
“The fact that you are telling your story so many times, you just lose hope … you lose confidence in people.”
A series of youth suicides in 2018 led the school board to call an emergency meeting. They left those meetings with several suggestions, which include sharing more information about mental health problems, more treatment for victims of sexual abuse and more activities on earth.
John said things are improving. Fifteen of her 18 support positions for professional students are now busy, and she said they are also talking more with Quebec’s ministries of Nunavik’s challenges and needs.
Importance of cultural reconnection and hope
INUGUMINAQ, the Suicide Prevention Strategy of the Nunavik Health Board, has been in force since 2018. The strategy aims to improve the support of mental health and suicide prevention awareness in Nunavik.
As part of the strategy, the Board hired four suicide prevention bond workers to coordinate prevention efforts. While Nulukie would like more coverage in Nunavik, he said that any welfare program is beneficial.
She points out several programs, including one led by the Association of Men of Inukjuak of UNAAQ, which helps men and children to reconnect with their culture learning in the survival skills of the Earth, such as the construction of Igloos and Qamutiiks, traditional Inuit sledges .
He also believes that there must be stronger relationships between the different agencies, and a renewed commitment to first put the initiatives led by Inuit.
“I think this piece has to be understood by, I suppose, a European world,” he said.
Lionel Carmant, Minister of Quebec, responsible for social services, and Ian Lafrenière, Minister of Quebec, responsible for relations with the first nations and Inuit, said that their governments have put specific measures for the Inuit communities of the first nations in their Suicide prevention strategy, and continues its work in solutions in solutions. Adapted to Inuit realities.
“In December 2023, we signed a framework agreement to begin negotiations for greater autonomy for Inuit in Nunavik and to confirm our desire that the services in Nunavik are provided by and Inuit,” they said.
Mina Rita Niviaxie of Umiujaq Youth House agrees that the services administered by Inuit, for Inuit, is the way to follow.
“I feel that many of the children are more open for me for us who speak the same language … and I feel they are happier when they are doing cultural activities,” he said.
Even while processing his own pain, Niviaxie is still trying to spread hope to others in the community.
It is a message that your Aunt Nuktie shares.
“Life improves. It will be better. There are many hopes there, and much for what to live, much to do.”
If you or someone you know are fighting, this is where to look for help:
- In Nunavut and Nunavik, it reaches the Kamatsiaqtut help line 24/8 to 1-800-265-3333 or 867-979-3333.
- NRBHSS Inuit values and practices: 1-877-686-2845 (telephone, available 9 AM-5PM et in Inuktitut and English)
- Talk about suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (telephone) | 45645 (text between 4 pm and midnight et).
- Hope for the well -being help line: 1-855-242-3310 (telephone, available in Inuktitut, CREE and OJIBWAY on request).
- Help for children Telephone: 1-800-668-6868 (telephone), Chat advice live in The website.
- Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24 -hour crisis center.
