The Director of Social Health for the Sheshatshiu Innu Nation says more support services are needed in the community to help the many who are struggling.

Later today, the community will bury a 20-year-old woman who took her own life over the weekend. There have been ten other suicide attempts in the small, tight-knit community over the past week, with Chief Eugene Hart calling it a suicide crisis.

Anastasia Qupee says they are a small community, and anything that happens is felt by everyone. She says they cannot go on 24/7 the way they have.

Help has come from outside to alleviate some of the workers so they can go be with their families.

She said what happened effects everyone, and especially children. They haven’t been able to be there for the community 24/7 because they have to take care of themselves and their families who are all impacted closely.

Qupee says they work in their language and culture, and they’re the front line workers who have to go out to meet and talk with people.

They do have non-Indigenous staff who do help them, but Qupee says even they need help.

Qupee says they do have hope that the services they are working towards building, will continue to reinforce the strengths of their culture and language.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Canada offered a message of support with the Innu Nation, calling on all governments to step up to address the crisis.

Innu Nation and the First Nation communities of Sheshatshiu & Natuashish appreciate the support and attention of the Canadian Human Rights Commission during this crisis. @CdnHumanRights #Innu https://t.co/S6eU9jaxm8

— Innu Nation (@ntesinan) October 31, 2019

Earlier Story

Celia Ariann Gregoire Jones, who was from Sheshatshiu, was only 20 years old. She died by suicide on the weekend and will be laid to rest today.

Her death and the attempted suicide of ten others over the past week have led to calls from the First Nations community for more services and resources to deal with what it is calling a “suicide crisis.”

Band Chief Eugene Hart says they do have counsellors, but not enough of them who are full-time. He says you can feel the dark cloud over the community as they try to reach out to those who need help. Some services are being established, for example the Mary May Healing Centre is open 24/7.

Meanwhile, government says much has been accomplished in improving health and addictions services throughout the province, but much more needs to be done.

Premier Dwight Ball, who also is the minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, says two social workers from Labrador-Grenfell Health have been providing support and counselling in the community since Saturday, and that the Mary May Healing Centre will remain on extended hours for the next two weeks.

If you or anyone needs help, contact the Mental Health Crisis Line at (709) 737-4668 or toll free at (888) 737-4668, or the Mobile Crisis Response Team at (709) 737-4668 or toll free at (888) 737-4668.