By Colton Swiderski

Northern MP calls for more suicide prevention services

Sep 10, 2016 | 5:29 PM

To raise awareness and remember those lost to suicide, leaders and communities across northern Saskatchewan are recognizing World Suicide Prevention Day.

Georgina Jolibois, MP for Desnethe–Missinippi–Churchill River, said it’s pivotal to acknowledge the reality of suicides.

“The annual suicide rate in Saskatchewan’s Keewatin Yatthé Regional Health Authority…is the highest of any health authority in the province,” Jolibois said in a news release. “At 43.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 people between 2008 and 2012, the northern health region has a suicide rate more than triple the provincial rate of 12.7.”

She said all levels of government must go after the “root cause of suicide and instill hope, particularly among our youth.”

A lack of economic, literary and community opportunities are at the source of northern Saskatchewan’s high suicide rate, she said.

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Around-the-clock mental health services in remote communities are a solution, Jolibois suggested.

A number of events are planned across the north on Saturday, Sept. 10, including a walk beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Lac La Ronge Band’s Kiskinwuhumatowin, which is an urban reserve Residential School Memorial Site

Then, across from the La Ronge Health Clinic from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. people are invited to gather for World Suicide Prevention Day.

Worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates over 800,000 people die by suicide each year.

Colton Swiderski is meadowlakeNOW’s municipal affairs, crime and court, health and education reporter. He can be reached at cswiderski@jpbg.ca or tweet him @coltonswiderski.