Northern Saskatchewan MP Georgina Jolibois speaks out on suicides in La Loche

The Member of Parliament for northern Saskatchewan says much more needs to be done to prevent suicides in her community.

DesnethMissinippiChurchill River MP Georgina Jolibois spoke at an emergency debate on the Attawapiskat suicide crisis earlier this week.

"There are more suicide attempts (in La Loche) since the shooting of January 22, 2016," she said. "Since that day, I stood here before you, and before the House of Commons parliamentarians, requesting additional services from both levels of government. Unfortunately, it is sad to say that the help has not come."

• Attawapiskat suicide crisis: MPs hold emergency debate over suicide attempts
• La Loche, Sask., shootings: Male, 17, charged with 4 counts of 1st-degree murder

A 17-year-old is facing charges after a mass shooting in La Loche earlier this year. Four people died and seven people were injured.

In her speech, Jolibois, the former mayor of La Loche, said the shootings have added even more pressure to an already troubled community.

"The children and the youth in La Loche and surrounding communities are showing signs of PTSD," she said. "And they have nowhere to turn to, and nowhere to go."

While the New Democratic Party MP said local schools are doing their best to keep up, they need much more support.

"The families are left on their own to fend for themselves, and to try and take care of their problems, with no help." said Jolibois. "No help from the health centre and no help anywhere else."

Jolibois said in her own family,her brother has lost three of his children to suicide.

Recently, she said a health care provider from northern Saskatchewan had to travel 600 kilometres to Saskatoon to get help for her daughter, who had tried to kill herself.

"She couldn't find the help in her own community, because the existing health care services are inadequate or insufficient."

Jolibois asked for a wide range of supports for La Loche, including more dedicated counselling services and cultural programming.