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Safe Talk

Flying Dust First Nation holding its first “Safe Talk”

Dec 10, 2019 | 5:21 PM

Flying Dust First Nation will host its first Safe Talk in the coming days.

Patricia Main is a First Nation prevention worker and will be administering the Safe Talk, a peer to peer suicide prevention knowledge and recognition course.

“Safe Talk is a three-hour training course that prepares individuals to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connects them to a suicide first-aid resource to make sure they’re safe,” Main told meadowlakeNOW.

According to the Centre for Suicide Prevention website, historical aspects continue to affect Native Canadians socially and culturally, and to this day make suicide prevention efforts a continuing struggle.

“We’re listening to our young people and as a prevention worker for Flying Dust, that’s one of our mandates is to have skills and tools for our young people so if there are issues, whether its self-esteem or bullying, there is a way out and there is hope for them,” she said.

Main added a bullying program is under development at Flying Dust School and will be promoted in the new year.

A Safe Talk is scheduled for students ages 15 and up on Dec.18 at Flying Dust Youth Centre from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Members of the community and elders are encouraged to learn suicide prevention skills the following day on Thursday Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Flying Dust Gym.

nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722

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