Blue Ribbon Campaign Tackles Youth Suicide
- EFN Staff | December 17, 2013
A new initiative is hoped to help address the issue of suicide in Métis youth. The Blue Ribbon Campaign is aimed at raising awareness of suicide and at training trainers to help prevent suicide amongst Métis youth.
"This is part of our comprehensive youth suicide prevention strategy," said MN-S President Robert Doucette. "The Blue Ribbon campaign is designed to allow Métis communities to take ownership and control over suicide prevention and intervention. In one three year span, we had 40 youth suicide in the north. If that happened in Saskatoon or Regina, there would be outrage and in inquest. We need to raise awareness of this issue right now."
A Blue Ribbon will represent the campaign and be distributed to raise awareness of the program and its goals. A Training Manual and Tool Kit have been developed as the vehicles for taking the program into communities and raising awareness around the issue of youth suicide.
"This program has been created to support the unique needs of our Métis communities and expands the capacity that already exists," noted Sandra Youngchief, Interim Director of MN-S Health. "We are looking forward to getting these materials into the hands of facilitators and service providers across the province."
Community-based, community-driven, and inclusive, the Métis Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy's Blue Ribbon campaign represents the potential for healthier communities and is based on sustainable solutions and plans for action.
"We need to think outside of the 8-5 o'clock world. We need services for these young people in their communities and at any time," added Youngchief. "We need to provide support for our facilitators and show the youth there is hope."