Life Promotion/Suicide Prevention Week observed in Dawson City
The Tr’ondëk Hwëchin Wellness Department, Mental Wellness and Substance Use (MWSU) and the Roots of Hope Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention Initiative have collaborated to host a week of training and activities during Nihè dinch’è jì’ wë̀tä̀zul Life Promotion/Suicide Prevention Week.
The Tr’ondëk Hwëchin Wellness Department, Mental Wellness and Substance Use (MWSU) and the Roots of Hope Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention Initiative have collaborated to host a week of training and activities during Nihè dinch’è jì’ wë̀tä̀zul Life Promotion/Suicide Prevention Week.
Events began Monday in Dawson City and will continue until Friday.
The weekly programming will include workshops, events and a community film screening.
Covered will be such topics such as life promotion, as rooted in Tr’ondëk Hwëchin culture, suicide prevention and information, harm reduction, grief and remembrance, safer partying, healthy relationships, men’s mental wellness, crafting, art and more.
A full day of cultural programming will also be offered by the Tr’ondëk Hwëchin First Nation on Friday.
Prizes are being distributed throughout the week featuring graphics created by a local artist working with the Tr’ondëk Hwëchin Youth Centre.
The partnership between Tr’ondëk Hwëchin Wellness Department and Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services, through the Roots of Hope Project, will continue through the fall, with training in Dawson from Oct. 24 to Oct. 28.
In conjunction with the Community Campus, activities will be offered to Dawson residents, including Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), safeTALK and suicide prevention talks specific to youth audiences.
a interested in participating in Nihè dinch’è jì’ wë̀tä̀zul Promotion of Life/Suicide Prevention Week can view the week’s programming online.
“It is important that we continue to promote initiatives that help Yukoners live happy, healthy and safe lives,” Health and Social Services Minister Tracy Anne-McPhee said Monday.
“Communities need their own unique mental wellness supports tailored to their needs and cultures, and I am pleased to see the collaboration between the Tr’ondëk Hwëchin Wellness Department and Roots of Hope to better the lives of Dawson residents,” McPhee added.
“I encourage everyone to participate in this important event and take advantage of the opportunities that will be available throughout the week.”
The Roots of Hope Life Promotion and Suicide Prevention Initiative worked with the Tr’ondëk Hwëchin language department to give the initiative a name in the Hän language.
Nihè dinch’è jì’ wë̀tä̀zul translates to “It is better when you are with us,” as stated from a group to an individual.
The week of events is supported by many community partners and institutions.
They include Tr’ondëk Hwëchin Wellness Department, Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services (MWSU), First Nations Health Programs, Bringing Youth Towards Equality (BYTE), Klondike Institute for Arts and Culture (KIAC), Dawson Women’s Shelter, Industrial Arts and Technology Society of the Yukon, and more.
For mental wellness support, Yukoners can visit “mental health and wellness support during COVID-19” or call 456-3838.
Comments (2)
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Juniper Jackson on Sep 14, 2022 at 1:23 pm
As long as our youth, and young adults feel hopeless, with no future for them, they will continue to find ways to dull that feeling of nothingness. Instead of 'suicide', get that word out of the lexicon, and call it The Roots of Life, a Future for all. Leave off the negative suicides and addiction. Those words just bring a kind of sadness. Target the vulnerable and present them with future options. For some, that may be living off grid, earning a living with wilderness adventures, for others, music is an absolute. Music speaks to something inside them. Put some money into a recording studio, send someone for training. Let those folks write lyrics, bring their poetry to life, learn a keyboard. For some, maybe someone is a gamer, or likes comics, there is a big future in computer technology. Maybe one loves critters, cover the cost of Animal Technologist. It's a 2 year program in Alberta. There are many ways to find out where a persons 'heart' is. Once you find that out, the rest falls into place.
I don't think its enough to declare a day, and sit around and talk about it. Maybe hang a poster "Today we are talking about building a recording studio. if you are interested in music, lyrics, guitar, piano, percussion, bring your thoughts" and of course, feed everyone a lunch. A lot gets done over a meal. These are just my thoughts, as usual i never speak for anyone but myself. Between FN banking and YTG, i'm sure the money can be found to fund a new direction.
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bonanzajoe on Sep 13, 2022 at 9:08 pm
@"safer partying". Armed guards at the parties?