Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Community Suicide Prevention Fund

In October 2022, following the upsurge of deaths to suicide, the Minister of Health and Social Services acknowledged the NWT was in a mental health crisis and "expedited" the Community Suicide Prevention Fund. The Community Suicide Prevention Fund provides financial support for community-based prevention activities. At the direction of the Minister, the Department of Health and Social Services provided funds directly without application. Committee believes this was an appropriate response. Many communities do not have the human resources capacity to write an application, budget, or provide reporting required. As a result, many communities do not apply to the Community Suicide Prevention Fund or other mental wellness and addictions recovery funds, leaving these funds underutilized. Eliminating administrative burdens allows communities to focus on self-determining their own suicide prevention strategies and will increase the likelihood these funds will be utilized. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 4: The Department of Health and Social Services expedite and streamline the application, approval, and reporting requirements for the Community Suicide Prevention Fund.

"We are talking about more cultural programming and events in community. What if we had small activities happening every week, every month that makes us feel supported. Various things like going on walks, drum dances, anything that helps youth connect with others. Connecting with identity and culture is suicide prevention." - Supporting Well-being.

Youth want opportunities to be involved in sports, recreational activities, and do arts to develop friendships and gain confidence and be part of the community. Youth want to know their identities and have opportunities to practice their culture, language, and on the land skills with elders and knowledge-keepers. Doing so, instills pride and empowers Indigenous youth. Youth want access to consistent programming and activities daily, weekly, and monthly. Youth who are in a crisis or experiencing challenges may need access to a lot of different programming, with the understanding that their participation may take time to develop interest or trust. Youth want mentorship with elders and respected members of the community. Youth are seeking simple experiences with their mentors like going on walks, getting coffee, or just having conversation. They want to be sincerely cared about. Home Base YK staff said, "One act of kindness will make a huge difference in someone's life." Youth want youth-led programming that builds resilience and strengthens their community supports. This is what youth said is suicide prevention.

Committee believes that the eligible projects under the Community Suicide Prevention Fund should be expanded to include strategies youth have identified as suicide prevention. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 5: The Department of Health and Social Services expand the eligibility for projects under the Community Suicide Prevention Fund to include sports, arts, and recreational programming, culture, language, and on the land programming, and informal elder/respected community member-youth mentorship.

Currently, the maximum funding available for the Community Suicide Prevention Fund is $225,000 per year. Committee believes that that $225,000 annually does not adequately respond to the mental health crisis and upsurge in deaths to suicide. Additional funding is required to strengthen the community supports. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 6: The Department of Health and Social Services increase the Community Suicide Prevention Fund to $1 million annually.

So, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to pass on to my colleague Monfwi, Ms. Armstrong.