Expand youth suicide program, national chief urges

NEWS RELEASE

ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS

************************* Assembly of First Nations calls for expansion of successful suicide prevention program

OTTAWA, September 10 - On World Suicide Prevention Day, AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine is calling on government to expand the "highly successful" National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy (NAYSPS).

The AFN would like to see the number of NAYSPS projects double over the next year.

"The National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy is making a real difference because, for the first time, communities can develop a crisis plan and projects aimed at prevention, which has not been possible in the past," said National Chief Phil Fontaine. "In some communities people didn't know how to approach someone who needed help. This program is not only bringing the issue out into the open, but teaching people how to help those at risk."

NAYSPS helps First Nations partner with education, health and justice workers to identify people who are at risk, and take preventative measures.

Some communities are also involving youth in the design of NAYSPS projects, and have trained youth peer leaders who hold monthly workshops for youth at risk.

"In the past youth were reluctant to seek help, because they worried about confidentiality or simply didn't trust the program," says Sasha Maracle, of the AFN National Youth Council. "By involving youth in the design of NAYSPS projects, communities are improving their services."

She added that involving youth in the design of suicide prevention projects was a key recommendation of the National Youth Council's five-year action plan, which was developed at last year's National Youth Summit.

Both National Chief Phil Fontaine and Youth Leader Sasha Maracle think expanding NAYSPS is a critical next step.

There are currently 140 community based projects across Canada.

They would like to see that number double this year, and double again in 2010.

First Nations' youth commit suicide at a rate up to six times higher than Canadian youth overall.

First Nations' adults commit suicide three times more than the Canadian average.

However, incidents of suicide vary from community to community.

Suicide is an urgent issue in some First Nations communities, others have very low rates of suicide and some communities have not had a suicide in more than a decade.

Incidents of suicide tend to be lower in communities that have high levels of cultural continuity as expressed by self-control over land claims, self-government, education and cultural practices.

Key causes of suicide in First Nations communities are poverty, poor health and low self-esteem.

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