Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide its report Strengthening Community Supports, Lifting Youth Voices: Recommendations on Suicide Prevention, and commends it to the House.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT REPORT ON SUICIDE PREVENTION

A MESSAGE TO YOUTH

Thank you to the youth who shared courageously on suicide prevention with the Standing Committee on Social Development. We heard you. We respect you. We believe in you. From you, we learn and take your lead. We hope you see your thoughts, ideas, and perspectives, and the resources and supports you asked for, reflected in the following report and its recommendations.

INTRODUCTION: YOUTH KNOW WHAT THEY WANT

All youth are sacred. Northwest Territories youth are talented, brilliant and powerful. Youth have so much to contribute to the North and to the world. Yet, many youth in the NWT are facing a mental health crises due to complex challenges that diminish the overall quality of their lives. Far too many youth do not have access to sports and recreation, Indigenous languages, Indigenous culture, on the land programming, mentors, addictions supports, places of healing, safe schools and other safe spaces. Some youth struggle with having basic human necessities like stable and safe housing. Indigenous youth face additional challenges due to the Indian Residential Schools legacy, the child welfare system, and loss of culture and land as a result of colonization. Youth touched by the loss of life to suicide face added layers of loss and grief. These risk factors increase the likelihood of suicidal ideation and loss of life to suicide.

Youth need leaders and champions throughout the NWT who believe in them and will advocate for the resources and supports they need to live quality lives. Youth need action taken now. The committee invited youth-led and youth-serving organizations to share their thoughts, ideas, and perspectives on suicide prevention and the kinds of strategies needed to empower youth and prevent loss of life to suicide. Five youth-led organizations, one youth-serving organization, and one Dene counsellor who facilitates on the land healing with youth and communities, stepped forward and provided responses to the Committee's three questions:

1. If it were up to you, what supports would you give to youth in your community to prevent loss of life to suicide?
2. What do youth need in your community to build resilience and inspire hope? And,
3. How can the government empower youth to lead mental health and well-being solutions?

Youth were clear in their responses. Youth know what they want:

• Youth want a territorial youth-led conference that focuses on mental health and wellness;
• Youth want consistent aftercare supports from health professionals and community members following and suicidal ideation or attempts;
• Youth want access to individual and family-oriented addictions and healing supports;
• Youth want an increase to accessible programs including programming sports, recreation, culture, language, and on the land programming;
• Youth want to be cared about;
• Youth want safe schools and safe spaces that are free of alcohol, drugs and violence; and,
• Youth want safe and stable housing.

Youth said these were suicide prevention strategies. A territory-wide response focused on building resilience and strengthening community supports is key to protecting lives and reducing loss of life due to suicide.

LOSS OF LIFE TO SUICIDE IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

In October 2022, the Office of the Chief Coroner released the 2021-2022 Early Release of Suicide Data to raise the alarm on the upsurge of deaths to suicide. At that time, 18 deaths to suicide were reported, more than any one year in the two decades prior. According to the Office of the Chief Coroner, the majority of those impacted were male between the age of 20 and 29 in the Beaufort Delta and North Slave regions of the Northwest Territories. Community leaders have shared that most were Indigenous. Loss of life to suicide occurred in all five regions.

See Appendix A for more information.

In response to the loss of life among youth to suicide, committee prioritized speaking to youth on the topic of suicide prevention efforts and advocating for accessible resources and supports. Youth are defined as an individual under 30.

COMMITTEE APPROACH.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pass the reading of this report to my colleague for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.