Wave of Indigenous Suicides Leaves Canadian Town Appealing for Help

[lego 44,165]

Leaders of an indigenous community in rural Canada have appealed to national authorities for help after a wave of suicides and attempted suicides set off a public health crisis in their remote town and revived a painful conversation about the relationship between the government and its native communities.

Six people have killed themselves in the past three months, and more than 140 more have attempted suicide or expressed a desire to kill themselves in the Cree Indian community of Cross Lake, with a population of about 6,000.

The area has been racked by an unemployment rate of nearly 85 percent, deep poverty and a profound sense of alienation from the wealthy, majority-white cities of southern Canada, officials said.

The suicides began on Dec. 12, when a homeless woman in her early 20s hanged herself in a relative’s home, said Donnie McKay, a local councilor. The death began a disturbing trend in Cross Lake, the hub of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation in the vast coniferous wilderness of Manitoba.

“It’s been very difficult for the people of our nation,” Mr. McKay said. “There is a lot of grief and sorrow.”

 

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http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/03/19/world/americas/canada-youth-suicide.html?smid=tw-share&referer=https://t.co/ALghIxejsO&_r=0

 

[Morphine Prince 109,699]

 

[2007 5,291]

I have a lot of (controversial) opinions to say about this that some members might find them offensive, so I'll just go with 'may they RIP'. 

[Goosey 3,017]

Indians face a lot of issues with depression, suicide, substance abuse, homelessness, crime, etc, but 140 attempted suicides is a bit much.

This story reminds me of:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_psychogenic_illness

[Seeka 12,372]

This kind of sounds like a Stephan King novel.