Pimicikamak hockey coach pleads for more youth programs to prevent suicide

A hockey coach in Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) says youth in the northern communityneedmore than just one after-school hockey program after the community declared a state of emergency following six suicide deathssince Dec. 12.

Four of the victims were high school students, one was a young person from Norway House visiting the community for a funeral, and the most recent was a mother of three in her 30s.There are 100students at the high school on the suicide watch list.

"It affects everybody in school, in the hockey teams. They're all friends and it's really hard for the kids right now in our community," saidcommunity's hockeycoach, HaroldNachbaur.

• More details emerge about suicide crisis at Pimicikamak Cree Nation
• Pimicikamak students speak out about suicide crisis in northern community
• Manitoba sends suicide prevention unit to Pimicikamak, PCs say too little, too late

There are no arts, music, dance or self-defence programs, Nachbaur said, leaving young people with nothing to do and nowhere to go. They need a place where they can go and talk, he said.

"Somewhere where the kids can go and hang out and feel like they're wanted and there's something to do other than going to try to commit suicide or [do] drugs and [drink] alcohol," he said.

The community only has one rink that's overbooked and only offers hockey, no public skating, he said.

"We need some more intervention, some prevention, some programs to start kicking up and getting the kids to be more occupied. There's not enough for them to do," he said."We need a nice youth complex, a youth centre, somewhere for the kids to go and hangout and have some fun."

If Nachbaur's 16-year-old son wasn't playing hockey, he said he would be concerned about what he's doing in his spare time.

"I'd be always on him and looking at what he's actually doing and up to," he said. "Drugs and alcohol [are] a big thing here in the community for the young people. [They also get into] trouble, fighting."

Pimicikamak declares state of emergency to deal with suicide crisis

9 years ago

Duration 0:46

The acting chief of the northern Manitoba community of Pimicikamak Cree Nation (Cross Lake) has declared a state of emergency after the deaths of six people by suicide since December 12.People in the community are shocked and can't believe what's going on, he said.

"We're wondering what the heck can we do as parents to start moving forward in a positive direction."

If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, these resources are available:

• Reason to Live - Manitoba Suicide Hotline
• Manitoba Crisis Services