NAN Declares Suicide Prevention Must be a Priority for New Federal Government
NAN Press Release from NAN web site at http://www.nan.on.ca
After the third suicide of 2006, NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler declared suicide prevention funding must be a priority with the new federal government.
NEWS RELEASE - 1/10/2006
NAN CALLS ON HEALTH CANADA TO EXPEDITE FUNDING PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
THUNDER BAY, ON Tuesday January 10, 2006: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler today declared suicide prevention funding must be a priority with the new federal government.
"Because service providers are busy dealing with crisis response, long term prevention strategies get put on hold," said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. "It's time we see some of the $65 million announced as part of Health Canada's $400 million package (fall of 2004) and re-evaluate the protocol hurdles currently enforced at the regional level."
Fiddler's comments come after the third completed suicide in Pikangikum First Nation already this year.
"We're only nine days into 2006 and we've already lost three of our youth if that doesn't show the severity of the growing need for suicide prevention in our communities I don't know what will," said Fiddler when he heard of the most recent suicide Monday morning.
There were 24 completed suicides in NAN territory in 2005. The last four suicides have taken place in Pikangikum First Nation a community of approximately 2000 in the Northwest area of NAN.
Fiddler, together with NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy, is meeting with provincial Health and Long Term Care Minister George Smitherman in Toronto Wednesday. The two leaders are urgently requesting to meet with the federal Health Minister.
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For more information please contact:
Jenna Young
Communications Officer
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
(807) 625 4952
(807) 628 3953 (mobile)