Chief calls for action after 30 recent suicide attempts in Black Lake

Another First Nations chief is calling for swift action as the suicide crisis in northern Saskatchewan continues.

Black Lake Chief Coreen Sayazie says her community of just over 2,000 people has seen 30 suicide attempts in the last six weeks.

She wants to see more trained mental health workers specialized in suicide intervention in the province’s north. She claims only two mental health workers currently work in the far north and says their hours are being cut, with new limitations on overtime.

She says the two workers are only allowed overtime in the event of an emergency.

Officials with the Athabasca Health Authority, in which Black Lake lies, say the region is working with contracted therapists to address the shortfall and to come up with solutions to address the gap.

The Black Lake community is hosting a youth healing workshop this weekend, and in March the community will be hosting a healing gathering.

Several other chiefs spoke out late last year following a rash of suicides of children in northern Saskatchewan.