Northern Sask Crisis: Who was Jadene Anna Irving
- Jeanelle Mandes | October 20, 2016
She was a happy 14-year-old little girl who had a very compassionate heart and was a big animal lover. Jadene Anna Irving dreamt of becoming a veterinarian with hopes of opening up her own veterinary clinic in the north to save animals and help them in any way she possibly could.
“She knew there wasn't enough help for them and hated the thought of putting any animal down,” says mother, Lynda Roberts. “She had two spiders in the house, which she named and had asked us not to bother them.”
Jadene was also an artist who enjoyed drawing, crafting, sewing, beading, knitting, and reading. She loved to work with children, especially her nieces and nephews, by teaching them how to spell, read and do their math. She always put others before herself by helping those who were in struggle and in need. Lynda describes her daughter as a very family-oriented person, a great friend to all, and who never judged anyone.
“We were always so proud of everything she did, she gave her best at everything she did,” says Lynda. “She was the kind of person to give you her money so you could buy food or a drink if you were hungry. She asked for very little in life—she took a lot of joy in making others happy.”
Every day, Lynda lights a candle for her daughter, who was one of the four girls, aged 10 to 14, who committed suicide in Saskatchewan’s northern communities; Lac La Ronge, Stanley Mission, and Deschambault Lake--in a span of two-weeks. Jadene sadly ended her life on October 11th and her mother says she didn’t notice any unusual behaviour in Jadene that day.
“She was always so happy so we don't have any clue on what happened. She just came home on Monday and she was happy it was picture day at school,” she recalls.
AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde says there’s a need for change as Canada’s Indigenous youth suicide rate is five times the national average.
“One is way too much in any community, so from three to four, it’s a crisis situation,” he says. “Everyone should be brought together to focus on meeting the needs of the youth on the short-term. On the longer term, you got to make sure that the long term strategies are in place to deal with mental health amongst young First Nations men and women.”
Related: Indigenous suicide is a public health crisis
During the Legislative Assembly on October 19th, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall expressed his condolences to the Northern communities who are dealing with the recent tragic losses.
“There really are no words that we have to express our sorrow at the tragedy that has happened. Neither are there words to properly express our concern for what might lead young people to this conclusion in the numbers that we have seen,” he says. “The issue of suicides in the North has been a top concern for local leaders and for the provincial government for some number of years. We have moved through the health region and through the ministries proper to provide better support, improved support. Clearly more needs to be done…we’ll continue to respond to these suicides and work very, very hard with local leadership to ensure that they stop.”
According to the Northern Saskatchewan Health Indicators 2011 Report, “the three year average suicide rate in northern Saskatchewan in 2005-2007 was 33.7 suicides per 100,000 population.” La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson tells the local and national media that there were nine suicide attempts and more than 20 youths are considered at risk since the tragedies shook the nation.
Since the tragedy, Lynda says her community has been very helpful towards her and her family whom all has been seeing a mental health counselor.
Jadene leaves behind her mother, her father Michael Roberts, her siblings; Blake Whalley, Jonah, Niko, Justine and Jolene. Lynda’s advice to all parents is to reach out and talk to your children.
“We always told Jadene she could talk to us about anything and everything but sometimes I guess they choose to keep it inside,” says Jadene’s mother, who donated her daughter’s heart valves to reflect on how big of a heart Jadene had. “We miss and love her so much. She was and still is our pride and joy.”
The Kids Helpline is open 24 hours a day for phone and web counseling at 1-800-668-6868 and at www.kidshelpphone.ca.