Nunavut agencies step up suicide prevention efforts

Nunavut health officials and the RCMP say they're taking steps to lower the number of suicides in the territory.

The Health and Social Services Department is setting up a new mental health and wellness unit that will have two suicide intervention specialists on staff one based in Iqaluit and the other in Cambridge Bay.

"Their role will be to advance mental health and addiction services, and certainly the suicide prevention strategy," Norman Hatlevick, the department's director of mental health and wellness, told CBC News.

Nunavut's suicide prevention strategy is being created by a working group consisting of various agencies, including the government and the RCMP. Last week, the group released a report with suggestions from Nunavummiut about ways to reduce the number of suicides.

Intervention training continues

Hatlevick said the specialist positions are currently being filled. In the meantime, consultants are handling some current projects, such as training instructors for the ASIST suicide intervention training program.

Hatlevick said the department wants to ensure everyone who will provide ASIST trainiing will be fully certified by June.

"It's just an exciting time right now. We've got an opportunity here to really focus on mental health services," he said.

"In the Department of Health and Social Services' business plan, there are several references to mental health services. And so there's an obvious focus and commitment on the part of the department to bring up mental health and counselling services to a more optimal level."

RCMP focus on youth

Meanwhile, on Monday the RCMP finished hosting its first-ever youth academy, which brought youth from across Nunavut to Iqaluit to experience what it's like to work as an RCMP officer.

Supt. Steve McVarnock, the head of the RCMP in Nunavut, said the police force is also working with the military to set up a firearms safety and awareness program for youth.

"The future of Nunavut is in the hands of the youth, so we have to give them tools and support things like what we've done here this week with the RCMP youth academy," McVarnock said.

"We're engaged in everything that we can be to be a team player. It's not just one person's responsibility, everybody has to chip in."