Ontario to spend up to $2M to help Attawapiskat First Nation

Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins announced Wednesday that the provincial government will dedicateup to $2 million toward long-term solutions to prevent suicide attempts inthe troubledAttawapiskatFirst Nation.

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The money will payfor continuous mental health support, and night and evening nursing clinical support, includingfour mental health workers, up to five nurses, two security staff, one communications person and an incident manager. A youth centre will also be set up.

Hoskinstravelled to Attawapiskat with Tracy MacCharles, Ontario's minister of children and youth services.

"The provincial government, the local band council and the communitywill hold a forum to develop a long-term plan tosupport the communityto ensure the people ofAttawapiskat particularly youthfeel safe,respected and supported," the two said in a joint statement.

The remote northern OntarioFirst Nation of about 2,000 is facing a suicide crisis among its youth. Mental health workers have been flown in to help, kicking off some difficult conversations with young people about what's causing them to want to end their lives.

The Attawapiskat chief declared a state of emergency Saturday evening, after 11 suicide attempts in a single dayand reportsof over 100 suicide attempts and at least one death since September.

Health Canada said Tuesday that roughly 18 additional people including a crisis co-ordinator, two youth support workers and a psychologist had been deployed as temporary crisis relief since a state of emergency was declared in Attawapiskat.

No quick fixes

Aformer prime minister who dealt with similar issues during his tenure said Tuesday there are no quick fixes.

"It's an extremely difficult problem," Jean Chrtien said. "I was with this problem in 1968, a long time ago. It takes time and patience, and there's always tragedies of that nature that occur and the government has to do its best to cure it. But it's not easy."