Facing down distress, no one need be alone.

That's the message behind SafeTALK, a three-hour workshop tomorrow, Wednesday, open to anyone aged 15 years old or older.

It aims to assist community members to recognize SA国际影视传媒渋nvitationsSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� the behaviours or the appearances of individuals who may be having suicidal thoughts. They can then reach resources, whether that be counseling, crisis lines or online supports.

SA国际影视传媒淓veryoneSA国际影视传媒檚 different,SA国际影视传媒� SafeTALK instructor Alyssa Carpenter said. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 one of the biggest things people donSA国际影视传媒檛 realize.SA国际影视传媒�

The workshop's only instructor in the territory, she tries to transition what would be typically described as warning signs into more positive language around assisting a distressed person. Those underlying feelings can often be more common than expected: While one in 20 can have thoughts of suicide, SA国际影视传媒渂ut do people act on that?SA国际影视传媒� she said.

For her, this can be indicative of the culture, and the stigma around suicide.

The most recent data on the subject from the Government of Northwest Territories Bureau of Statistics is from 2017. That year, six people took their lives in the Northwest Territories, compared to 12 the year before.

At least six people have taken their own lives every year since 2007.

While itSA国际影视传媒檚 not as high as in Nunavut, she said, SA国际影视传媒渨eSA国际影视传媒檙e still incredibly high. And itSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of our younger population thatSA国际影视传媒檚 doing this.SA国际影视传媒�

The ongoing causes behind these high rates can vary, but include residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, inter-generational trauma, the cost of living and access to safe homes, she said. These can often be interconnected.

In response, communities have also been active: a suicide awareness march returned to Inuvik last month, and in July, Fort McPherson residents contributed their names to a hotline offering support to neighbours in distress.

Personally, a big reason Carpenter became certified is her own past with depression and experience in the North. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 the least of what I can offer, especially being from the region,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She said the SafeTALK program is western-designed, and not created specifically for the North. However, there is still good to take from it. SA国际影视传媒淭o have this conversation and say this is the reality that weSA国际影视传媒檙e in. People are taking their lives, and at an extremely fast rate.SA国际影视传媒� She said. SA国际影视传媒�(ItSA国际影视传媒檚 about) understanding how do we intervene, how do we talk about this?

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause it needs to be talked about.  It needs to be acknowledged. It canSA国际影视传媒檛 be considered a taboo anymore.SA国际影视传媒�

The workshop provides skills and tips on what to look and listen for, and what action can be taken in those situations. If someone is interested in this intervention aspect, the workshop especially caters to the skillset thatSA国际影视传媒檚 required.

She said she tries to bring a Northern context to the discussion. While the lessons doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 fit everything, it allows for a frank, but gentle conversation about suicide.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 also reminding individuals that are interested in wanting to support and do something, that we need to listen to people that can talk about what is going on and not be judged,SA国际影视传媒� she said, explaining the stigma aspect here is critical.

When working with young people specifically, she said it was important to avoid jumping to conclusions. Youth might not understand their feelings, or know how to communicate them. They might act out, or disengage from school and extracurricular activities. Those feelings can manifest in a range of ways. They can also be unsure of what the response will be.

For her, youth she worked with would open-up in unexpected places, including public areas. However, SA国际影视传媒渢hereSA国际影视传媒檚 always some form of invitation before someone has taken their life,SA国际影视传媒� she said. "Everyone has their own way of asking for help.

SA国际影视传媒淚t doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 look the same for everybody, otherwise it wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be the issue it is today,SA国际影视传媒� she said.