World Suicide Prevention Day Message from President Johannes Lampe

September 10, 2016

As a survivor of suicide, I know firsthand just what it is like to lose a loved one. There is a lot of hurt and pain, and a lot of suffering. The impacts are far reaching.

I’ve spent many sleepless nights struggling to understand why people choose to take their own lives. August 8, 2008 will forever be engrained in my mind – the date my son took his own life. For a long time I felt lost, hopeless and confused. But I eventually realized that I had to find the strength to pick up the pieces of my shattered life and to move on – not only for my own mental wellbeing, but also for other family members who leaned on me for support.

World Suicide Prevention Day, with this year’s theme “Connect, Communicate, Care” reminds us that we are not alone; that we are all in this together. It raises awareness of the importance of conversation; of showing compassion and understanding.

Being connected with oneself and with others is critical to one’s sense of hopefulness and wellbeing, and is one of the pillars of suicide prevention, intervention and post-intervention. We are all connected through our shared experiences, our pain and our hope.

Today, throughout Nunatsiavut, right across this country, and indeed around the world, people will gather to show support for suicide prevention; to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died, and to comfort those that have been left behind to pick up the pieces.

Our connectivity and our cultural values, as Inuit, have shaped who we are as a people and as a society. We have learned from the past, and we know all too well the importance of family, of community and personal values.

We have shown time and time again that we can overcome challenges, personally and collectively. We have shown that we can move forward with renewed strength, hope and determination.

As Nunatsiavummiut, as a community, we can all take part in promoting mental health and wellbeing, and in preventing suicide. We can all do more to recognize the early signs of mental health issues and encourage those who are in need to reach out and ask for help. We must remind ourselves and our loved ones that talking and seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength.

The Nunatsiavut Government has worked very hard over the years to raise awareness of mental health issues. We continue to provide many prevention, intervention and post-intervention programs, and we work closely with other governments, organizations and groups in dealing with this issue.

As we recognize World Suicide Prevention Day it is important to remember that life is to be celebrated and cherished. Through support and understanding, compassion, kind words and a willingness to listen, we can make a world of difference during trying and difficult times.

I encourage all Labrador Inuit to “connect” with each other, “communicate” with each other, and to show each other that we “care” as we move forward together to improve the mental wellness of all of our communities.

NT4