Suicide rates among the Inuit communities are among the highest in Canada, ranging from five to twenty times the rest of Canada’s rate. Developing Inuit specific tools and awareness for suicide prevention is part of the critical response to these troubling trends. The North in Focus: Nunavut, Our Land, Our People project was awarded $20,000 to build capacity to prepare a more extensive nomination in a future prize year. By integrating prior experiences in mental health programming, the team will create new community member connections, research mental health resource needs and materials, and initiate collaborations with youth centres and schools. This work will support developing a practical toolkit for mental health awareness in Nunavut that will see local youth, adults, and leaders involved in its development.
