Gabriela Kwiatek

Canadian Federal Policies and the Inuit Youth Suicide Crisis

Introduction

Canadian federal policies and the inuit youth suicide crisis. Explore the Inuit youth suicide crisis in the Canadian Arctic, linking it to historical trauma from federal policies. Discover strategies for prevention, focusing on Indigenous leadership, traditions, and psychological support.

Abstract

Since the late 1980s, an unusually high number of suicides and cases of self-harm has been recorded among the Indigenous inhabitants of the Canadian Arctic, the Inuit. The statistics on child and adolescent suicides are particularly drastic. This situation appears to be primarily a symptom of historical trauma which was acquired due to the colonization and assimilation processes and passed down from generation to generation. Federal policies, such as forced relocations and residential schools, have directly contributed to the severing of family ties and the abandonment of traditional lifestyles. Over the years, the federal government tried to address the issue of the Inuit youth suicide crisis through various proposals. The best strategies to end the suicide crisis seem to be the respect and incorporation of Indigenous leadership, upholding local traditions and ceremonies, as well as investing in psychological support and family therapy for the first inhabitants of the Arctic. To effectively address the problem, the solution must be comprehensive and Inuit-specific rather than symptom-focused. This article discusses how particular federal policies and programs in northern Canada have impacted the communal well-being of the Inuit, and it outlines the most important strategies aiming at decreasing suicide rates among Inuit youth.

Review

This article addresses a critically important and devastating issue: the unusually high rates of suicide and self-harm among Inuit youth in the Canadian Arctic. The abstract effectively frames this crisis not merely as a mental health problem, but as a profound symptom of intergenerational historical trauma directly linked to Canadian federal policies, such as forced relocations and residential schools. The premise that these policies contributed to the severing of family ties and traditional lifestyles, thereby creating the conditions for the current predicament, is a crucial and well-articulated starting point. The stated aim to discuss the impact of particular federal policies and outline comprehensive strategies for suicide rate reduction is both timely and highly relevant. A significant strength of the article, as presented in the abstract, lies in its explicit connection of the crisis to historical and ongoing systemic issues, moving beyond a purely individual or localized perspective. By emphasizing colonization, assimilation processes, and the intergenerational transmission of trauma, the article correctly identifies root causes that are often overlooked in symptom-focused interventions. The proposed strategies—centering on respect for Indigenous leadership, upholding local traditions and ceremonies, and investing in culturally appropriate psychological support and family therapy—are particularly compelling and align with best practices in Indigenous health. The call for "comprehensive and Inuit-specific" solutions rather than merely "symptom-focused" ones is a vital contribution to the discourse on Indigenous well-being and self-determination. While the abstract clearly outlines the problem and promising solution pathways, the full article would benefit from a deeper, more granular analysis of *how* specific federal programs, both historical and contemporary, have exacerbated or, conversely, failed to mitigate the crisis. Further elaboration on the *mechanisms* through which these policies impacted communal well-being, perhaps with specific examples or case studies, would strengthen its arguments considerably. An examination of the effectiveness or shortcomings of the "various proposals" made by the federal government over the years, as briefly mentioned, would also add valuable context and inform future policy recommendations. Overall, this article presents a compelling and necessary intervention into a tragic and complex issue, offering a crucial framework for understanding and addressing the Inuit youth suicide crisis from a historical and policy-informed perspective.

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