Resiliency within

In 2004, through a partnership of the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police V-Division and many caring stakeholders, the Embrace Life Council was established to coordinate initiatives in suicide prevention. In 2008, the Government of Nunavut (GN), Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police V-Division (RCMP) and the Embrace Life Council (IIKELC) formed a partnership to create a strategy to prevent suicide. A review of evidence-based research sought to identify suicide reduction methods from other jurisdictions. The partners sought input from Nunavummiut through a discussion paper1, community consultation and targeted discussions with key stakeholders involved in suicide prevention. In October 2010, the Partners released the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy2 (NSPS). In September 2011, an Action Plan3 outlining steps, to March 2014, to reach the vision of the NSPS was released. The Partners addressed knowledge and service gaps in mental health and suicide prevention as the eight commitments were addressed. In March 2014, this Action Plan was extended to allow for an evaluation. Nunavut’s Chief Coroner called an inquest into suicide, in January 2014, after the high level of suicide in 2013. The inquest, held in September 2015, heard testimony from family members, clinicians, researchers and partners of the NSPS. The jury produced eighty-nine recommendations in their verdict. At the conclusion of the inquest, the Partners committed to reviewing the jury recommendations and continuing their partnership in suicide prevention. Nunavut Premier Peter Taptuna declared a crisis on October 25, 2015. On January 8, 2016, Partners of the NSPS re-adopted the strategy’s vision, goals and approaches to suicide prevention and agreed to jointly developing Action Plans, consistent with the jury’s verdict.