'Crisis in our community,' Shamattawa First Nation chief says after 7-year-old attempts suicide

The chief of aremote northern Manitoba First Nation is calling for helpafter his sisterdied by suicide and a young child was left in critical condition following a suicide attempt.

Shamattawa First NationChief Eric Redheadannounced a local state of emergency on Tuesday.

"We are currently facing a suicide crisis in our community. We are calling for mental wellness supports for our community members at this time," he said in avirtual news conference.

"On May 9, we lost a mother of four to suicide and just last night we had a serious attempt by a seven-year-old child who is currently at Children's Hospital in Winnipeg and is currently unresponsive."

The mother of four was Redhead's only sister. She was32.

She wasn't related to the seven-year old.

Redhead says there's been an increase in suicide attempts since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mobile crisis teams from Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and the Keewatin Tribal Council are arriving Tuesday in the fly-in community, about 745 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.

Redheadalso reached out to Health Canada for help, especially mental health supportfor children and adolescents.

"When we see one [suicide] we often see a domino affect, and that's what we're worried about," he said.

WATCH | Manitoba First Nation declares state of emergency amid suicide crises:

Manitoba First Nation declares state of emergency after recent suicides

3 years ago

Duration 2:02

The small Manitoba First Nation community of Shamattawa has declared a state of emergency after several recent suicides. The chief and other Indigenous leaders are calling on Ottawa for immediate support after the chief's sister died and a seven-year-old boy tried to take his own life.

Health Canada directed CBC News to Indigenous Services Canada, which says it will supportcommunity-led solutions to the current challengesin the community, which includes helping Shamattawasecure child and adolescent expertise.

Redhead says he wants to see boots on the ground.

"I won't be satisfied until I see results, so the conversations, we continue to have conversations with the feds and it's always fluff," he said."It's always, 'We're here. We'll do what we can,' but until I see boots on the ground, I will not be satisfied."

Garrison Settee, the grand chief ofManitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak which represents northern Manitoba First Nationssays the pandemic has exposed cracks in mental health services in First Nations.

"It has really shown how deficient we are in mental health and emotional wellness," he said. "They have nowhere and no one to reach out to."

First Nations already grappling with poverty-related issues, and especially those that are remote, continue tobattle the crisis of suicide, Settee says, but it's gotten worse during the pandemic because of isolation and loss.

Control over mental health programs needed

In 2002, Shamattawa's chief at the time declared a state of emergency after three people took their own lives within nine days.

Then in 2016,four young people died by suicide within six weeks.

Three years later when Redhead became chief, a 12-year old died by suicide. There have been many more attempts over the years, he says.

Although the community has mental health programs in place with government agencies, he says Shamattawa needs to have more control over how programming is delivered.

"We can't be creative and do our own thing because it doesn't meet the program's mandate," he said.

"We're really restricted in being able to deliver health services to our members."

If you're experiencing suicidal thoughts or having a mental health crisis, help is out there. Contact the Manitoba Suicide Prevention and Support Line toll free at 1-877-435-7170 (1-877-HELP170) or Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. You can also text CONNECT to 686868 and get immediate support from a crisis responder through the Crisis Text Line, powered by Kids Help Phone.

Or contact Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (phone) | 45645 (text, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. CT only) | crisisservicescanada.ca