He said at a virtual press conference: “We are currently facing a suicide crisis in the community. We are now calling for mental health support for community members.”

“On May 9, we lost a 4-year-old mother to commit suicide. Just last night, we made a serious attempt on a 7-year-old child currently in Winnipeg Children’s Hospital, but there is no response so far.”

The mother of four children is Redhead’s only sister. She was 32 years old.

She has nothing to do with the seven-year-old child.

Redhead said that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide attempts have increased.

A mobile crisis team from the Keewatinowi Okimakanak and Keewatin Tribal Committee in Manitoba arrived on Tuesday and flew into the community about 745 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg.

Redhead also sought help from Health Canada, especially mental health support for children and adolescents.

“When we see a [suicide] …We often see the influence of dominoes, and this is what we worry about,” he said.

Health Canada directed the CBC News to the Canadian Aboriginal Service. The company has not yet responded.

Garrison Settee, Chief Chief of Keewatinowi Okimakanak in Manitoba Province, representing the indigenous peoples of northern Manitoba, said the epidemic has exposed cracks in the mental health services of the indigenous people.

He said: “This really shows how inadequate we are in mental health and emotional health.” “They have nowhere to go and no one can help.”

Settee said that the aboriginal people are already struggling to solve poverty-related problems, especially those that are remote. They continue to fight the suicide crisis, but due to isolation and loss, the situation gets worse during the pandemic.

Mental health plan needed for control

In 2002, after three people committed suicide within 9 days, the chief of Shamattawa declared a state of emergency.

Then in 2016, Four young people committed suicide in six weeks.

Three years later, when Redhead became chief, a 12-year-old man died by suicide. He said that over the years, there have been more attempts.

He said that although the community worked with government agencies to develop a mental health plan, Shamatawa still needs more control over how the procedure is delivered.

He said: “We can’t be creative, we can’t do our own thing, because it doesn’t meet the planned mission.”

“We are indeed restricted in providing health services to our members.”

If you have suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, you can always seek help.contact Manitoba Suicide Prevention and Support Hotline Toll-free number: 1-877-435-7170 (1-877-HELP170), or children’s help number: 1-800-668-6868. You can also send CONNECT to 686868 SMS and get immediate support from crisis responders through the “crisis text line” supported by the children’s help phone.

Or contact the Canadian Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (phone) | 45645 (text only, 3pm to 11pm CT)| Crisis Service