The suicide epidemic among indigenous people in Northern Ontario comes from a level of poverty and despair most southern residents of the province can’t begin to comprehend said mental health advocate Mike Neuts.
Neuts, who spent a week in a remote Cree Nation community on the east side of Hudson’s Bay two months ago, said the state of emergency declared by the Attawapiskat First Nation last week is a desperate call for resources.
The Attawapiskat council reacted after 11 people in the community of 2,000 attempted suicide in one night.
“The extreme poverty, deplorable living conditions and isolation are driving a whole generation to despair,” he said. “We have social problems here but there are people in place to help. That isn’t the case in these communities.”
The council’s action resulted in a crisis team of social workers and mental-health nurses being sent to the community.
An estimated 28 people tried to kill themselves in March and estimates are than more than 100 people, some as young as 11, have tried to take their life.
“I was asked by the Cree Nation in Quebec to come up and speak with some young people in the community of Whapmagoostui,” Neuts said. “The Cree in Quebec have resources due to a settlement with Hydro Quebec for use of their land. Those on the western side of the bay do not. “
He said he brought a message of learning how to cope with challenges and find balance while facing adversity.
“I met a 15-year-old girl who had a seven month old baby that she said was the only reason she wanted to live,” he said. “Another woman told me that I had saved her son’s life just by talking. It’s a life changing experience for me as well.”
Neuts said he doesn’t have much sympathy for those who judge the communities and their inhabitants in a cruel light.
“When you see communities with no drinkable water, no roads, plywood housing in sub-zero climates, I wonder how many of us could handle that,” he said. “There’s a harshness there that we don’t have.”
He said something as simple as an adequate diet has been shown to help people battle depression.
“When fruit, vegetables and nuts are considered delicacies, malnutrition becomes widespread,” he said. “We need to examine how we can help and make a real difference.”
He said a federal plan is a necessity.
“Just throwing money here and there with no purpose doesn’t work. There have been a lot of governments over the years who have tried to just write a cheque and walk away. It’s not that simple.”
Neuts said the March visit was his fourth to various communities in Northern Quebec.
“I’m hoping to go back,” he said. “It’s a place where you really know you can make a difference.”
