NDP urges Sask. Party to get on board with FSIN’s suicide prevention strategy

As suicides continue to disproportionately affect First Nation and Metis families throughout Saskatchewan, the NDP is urging the Sask. Party to support the strategy put forward by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), and commit the proper funding needed to address this serious issue.

“We know First Nations leaders are experts in the needs of their communities and I would like to thank the FSIN for creating this valuable document,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “Sadly, the Sask. Party government has left the large task of preventing suicides in the hands of the affected communities instead of taking the leadership role and working with them to create a strategy.”

In the document put forward by the FSIN, it shares startling statistics about the suicide crisis facing First Nations. Suicide death rates among First Nations people are 4.3 times higher than non-First Nations people. For First Nations women aged 10 to 19, it is 29.7 times higher. Among First Nations men aged 10 to 19, it is 6.4 times higher.

The suicide prevention strategy highlights how social determinants, such as poverty, poor living conditions and racism impact suicidal behaviour. When looking at the recommendations put forward by the World Health Organization and the United Nations, FSIN agrees that community specific and culturally specific needs must be addressed in suicide prevention strategies. The FSIN also recognizes that there is a need for “better leadership at the provincial level.”

“This government has continued to ignore the high rates of suicide in First Nations communities and underfunded programs that provide mental health supports for First Nations,” said Meili. “The Sask. Party must take the suicide crisis seriously, and commit to implementing a suicide prevention strategy for the entire province.”

Latest posts

CARLA BECK'S TEAM STANDS WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO RAISE ALARMS ON SKY-HIGH TUITION COSTS IN SASKATCHEWAN

Undergraduate Students In Saskatchewan Are Paying The Second-Highest Tuition Canada
REGINA – Today, as a new post-secondary school year begins, Carla Beck's team is standing alongside students to call out the extreme cost of tuition in Saskatchewan after 20 years of this Sask. Party mismanagement and failure to fund post-secondary.

SCOTT MOE HIDES STATE OF SCHOOLS FROM PRINCE ALBERT FAMILIES

Carla Beck’s Team Calls On Local MLAs To Stand Up To Premier, Education Minister & Demand Answers

PRINCE ALBERT— As Scott Moe and his Education Minister stand behind a decision to completely withhold information on the state of Saskatchewan schools, Carla Beck’s team is calling out Sask. Party MLAs in Prince Albert to demand transparency for the families they were elected to represent.

160 BLANK PAGES: IGNORANT SASK. PARTY HIDES INFORMATION ON STATE OF CRUMBLING SCHOOLS

Wednesday Marks First Day Of School For Many Saskatchewan Students

SASKATOON — Saskatchewan families and school divisions deserve answers about the condition of their schools, but the Sask. Party government has once again chosen secrecy over transparency, returning 160 blank pages in response to a Freedom of Information request seeking information about the state of school buildings across Saskatchewan.

EVEN AFTER GETTING CAUGHT WASTING TENS OF BILLIONS WITH NO OVERSIGHT, SCOTT MOE PLOWS AHEAD WITH COAL CATSTROPHE

Sask. Party Awards Contracts To Two Out-Of-Province Companies Even In Face Of Massive Costs For Consumers, Widespread Pushback
REGINA – Despite an avalanche of public outrage against Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison's coal catastrophe, the Sask. Party government is pressing ahead. While every independent report, and their own appointed Rate Review Panel, have made clear that their coal plan is the most expensive and highest risk option, Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison are ploughing ahead.

NDP Caucus Office