NORTHERN YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION PROJECT RECEIVES FUNDING

The Ministry of Health and the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan are developing a youth suicide prevention project in the north. The project is receiving $300,000 from Health Canada's Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (AHTF). The project will place three health promotion co-ordinators in Cumberland House, Ile-a-la-Crosse and Buffalo Narrows to work with northern regional health authorities and the Northern Health Strategy working group to adapt provincial health youth suicide prevention services.

"Our government is committed to working with our partners to reduce the suicide rate in Saskatchewan," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "Suicide is considerably higher among our First Nation and Métis youth compared to the general population in Saskatchewan and Canada. The statistics are tragic, and we are looking for ways and working on means to help those dealing with depression and thoughts of suicide."

"I am pleased to see the announcement of this project to address the problem of youth suicide in the north," First Nations and Métis Relations Minister and Minister responsible for Northern Affairs Bill Hutchinson said. "This partnership shows our government's commitment to the health and well-being of our northern youth."

"The Government of Canada is concerned about the high rates of suicide among Aboriginal youth and this funding enables the Métis in Saskatchewan to take important steps toward adapting services to better meet their needs," said Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament for Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River, on behalf of Leona Aglukkaq, federal Minister of Health. "Through programs like the AHTF, we are enabling provincial and territorial partners to work with Aboriginal people directly to find community-based solutions for a broad range of issues, including local suicide prevention activities and crisis intervention options."

The youth suicide prevention project will contribute to the development of a Métis Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy as well as an evaluation mechanism.

"The Métis Nation of Saskatchewan is dedicated to the well being of its citizens and we look forward to developing partnerships that facilitate this process," Métis Nation of Saskatchewan President Robert Doucette said. "We will work with the northern health regions to adapt services aimed at Métis youth suicide prevention. It is our mandate to ensure a healthy and productive environment for our youth to flourish and take part in society."

The project will identify the extent of suicide risk among Métis youth and as well as establish best practices and potential partnerships, and provide input into future provincial mental health initiatives.

In addition, the Ministry of Health recently launched a campaign that promotes HealthLine as a place to turn to during times of depression and thoughts of suicide. The campaign message is: There is Hope. There is Help. There are Answers.

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For more information, contact:

Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083