Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about suicide. Just by saying this, I feel like I'm doing something I shouldn't.

Growing up in the North my entire life, I have seen and heard of many suicides. What I never did was talk about it after a loss, or be given the tools on what to do, or how to talk about suicide after it happened. We seem to just to try to move on, and then it happens again. The families, or those close to the loved ones lost to suicide, never get over the loss of their loved ones. Sometimes, we think, "why didn't I do something? Why didn't I help them?" The thing is that there are many social and cultural factors that contribute to death by suicide, as well as underlying mental health conditions, and asking for help can be extremely difficult for those, as mental health is not looked at the same way as physical health.

Suicide rates from the NWT Bureau of Statistics in 2018 show 11 out of the 239 deaths reported died by suicide. That's one in 22 deaths, Mr. Speaker. The NWT has a small population compared to other provinces, and everyone knows everyone, and one death is one death too many by suicide. The Public Health Agency of Canada released Suicide in Canada: Key Statistics on suicide, and it states that it is the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults, 15-24, and males are three times higher than women.

So, what can you do if you know someone who may be considering suicide as a permanent solution to a temporary situation? According to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, suggest five steps. I won't go into details, Mr. Speaker, but I will read them.

• Ask. It's okay to ask them whether they are thinking about taking their own life;
• Keep them safe if they acknowledge suicide thoughts;
• Be there. Be willing to have the tough conversations. Listen to their distress;
• Help them connect. Help the person connect with a network; and
• Follow-up. Give a call, leave a message, text, drop by to see them. Your communication sends a message.

Mr. Speaker, our youth turn to each other for help. We need to equip them with the tools on what to do if someone discloses to them. As well, we need to ensure they also know how to seek help for themselves after disclosure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.