A psychiatrist who has been working with First Nations mental health services for several years says suicide crises like the one gripping the remote northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat have been a long-standing, inadequately addressed issue for decades.
Dr. Cornelia Wieman, a University of Toronto professor and the first indigenous woman to train as a psychiatrist in Canada, told CTV鈥檚 Power Play Tuesday that an alarming surge in suicide attempts in Attawapiskat didn鈥檛 happen overnight.
鈥淐onditions build up over a long period of time and eventually reach a boiling point,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e know that in some communities, and smaller communities especially, when one person is in distress it kind of creates a situation where other people experience almost like a contagious type of effect. And I think that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e seeing in Attawapiskat.鈥�
Local health officials have confirmed that upwards of 15 youth in the Attawapiskat First Nation had planned to overdose on prescription pills . This comes after the community declared a state of emergency over the weekend.
Wieman was part of a suicide prevention advisory group that on suicide rates among First Nation youth. The report made a number of short-and long-term recommendations, including an increase in funding for aboriginal mental health services, as well as a national conference on suicide prevention and a 鈥渃omprehensive鈥� national First Nations mental health strategy.
That was nearly 15 years ago and most of the recommendations 鈥渟till have not been acted upon,鈥� Wieman said. 鈥淣othing really has changed over the years.鈥�
鈥淭here have been crises like this happening for decades,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e only hear more about it now in the last 10 or 15 years because we have more social media and things like that.鈥�
In addition to mental health funding, Wieman said various levels of government should also be looking for other ways to address 鈥渁n emotional distress that has built up鈥� in indigenous communities.
That could mean simple things such as more recreational activities or even computer labs on reserves so that youth can feel connected to the outside world, she said.
