Pimicikamak students speak out about suicide crisis in northern community

High school students in Pimicikamakare doing what they can to supporteach other after losing three students tosuicide this year.

There have been six suicide deaths since Dec. 12 in the northern First Nation, also known as Cross Lake, more than 500 kilometres north of Winnipeg.The deaths promptedPimicikamakChief Shirley Robinson todeclarea state of emergency on Wednesday.

"It's been a big tragedy for us and it's taking a lot out of us," saidMorrison Ross, the student council president.

Ross, 19, has given his cellphone number to countless studentsand encourages them to call him at any hour.

"I'm scared to lose more youth," he said.

• Pimicikamak declares state of emergency to deal with suicide crisis
• Manitoba sends suicide prevention unit to Pimicikamak, PCs say too little, too late
• Cry for help after four teens take their own lives on Manitoba First Nation
• Niki Ashton sends plea to federal government following rash of suicides on Pimicikamak Cree Nation

Staff were given suicide prevention training on Tuesday and Wednesdayto help them look for warning signs and teach them how to safelyintervene.

"It teaches you how to react to suicide and how to help, how to talkto students who are thinking of suicide," said Nakeisha McDonald, a Grade 11 studentwho also took the training.

She also held a sharing circle on Wednesday after school. Sixstudents and four teachers showed up.

They don't need a crisis centre. All they need is parents to love themunconditionally- MorrisonRoss

"I thought it would fail, but everyone started opening up," she said."We had crying and they even talked about suicide."

McDonald said by the end of the sharing circle, the group talked threeteens out of suicide. This is the first of many sharingcircles to come, she said.

She thinks more after school activities are needed to keep young people busy.McDonald and Ross both agree a community centre is necessary butthe youth can't wait that long.

"They don't need a crisis centre. All they need is parents to love themunconditionally," said Ross.

Many parents don't understand why their kids may have suicidalthoughts, he said. He recommends if kids do express such thoughts, tell them they're loved.

The school is a safe place for kids, but they need the samesupport at home, he said.

There have been mental health support workers in the high school for two weeks.Additional crisis workers are expected now that a state of emergencyhas been called.

Suicide help in Manitoba

• Provincewide crisis lines
• Reason to Live Manitoba Suicide Line