The federal government is preparing to put together a relief plan for a British Columbia First Nation that has declared a state of emergency over a disturbing spike in suicides and attempted suicides.
A spokesman for Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says federal and provincial health officials are preparing to meet with Cowichan Tribes officials to offer help.
"That's the intent," said spokesman Steve Outhouse. "We have the program in place exactly for situations like this. We have mental health professionals, medical officials that if a community needs some short-term help or stabilization of a crisis situation that they can be mobilized and sent."
B.C.'s aboriginal relations and reconciliation minister Mary Polak said the province has also been in contact with Cowichan Tribes with an offer of help.
Polak said one of her deputy ministers is meeting Friday with Cowichan Chief Harvey Alphonse and some members of his council and staff.
"It's deeply concerning, but we need to remember that along with our deep concern for Cowichan Tribes, there is an over-arching problem for First Nations. . . and that is that the rate of suicides in First Nations is extremely high," said Polak.
Alphonse asked for help from the federal and provincial governments after four suicides involving aboriginals males this year.
He said a pervasive sense of hopelessness that hangs over much of the Cowichan nation has also led to 52 suicide alerts in his east coast Vancouver Island community this year.
Cowichan Tribes acting health director Jennifer Jones confirmed the First Nation has been contacted by officials from the province and Ottawa.
She said the early contact has given rise to some sense of optimism among First Nations officials, but Cowichan is looking for more than short-term help.
Jones said Cowichan Tribes is seeking permanent funding to hire two new full-time mental health counsellors. The First Nation currently has nine counsellors: one mental health, five drug and alcohol and three youth.
She said suicide alerts, which track suicide attempts and threats among Cowichan Tribes members, has been rising over the last decade.
From 2002 to 2007, Cowichan Tribes recorded 105 suicide alerts; from 2007 to 2011, it recorded 258 alerts; and so far this year, it's been 52 alerts.
Jones said the First Nations does not have exact suicide numbers over the same time period because some occur within reserve lands and others are off reserve, but suicides among First Nations appear to be increasing throughout Vancouver Island.
