Sask. child advocate highlights high number of youth suicide attempts

Saskatchewan’s child advocate is shining a spotlight on the growing number of suicide attempts by young people in government care.

In her annual report, Lisa Broda, Saskatchewan’s advocate for children and youth, said her office was notified of 31 suicide attempts in 2023 which resulted in a “high impact critical injury,” meaning hospitalization and major medical treatment was required.

In 2022, only 10 suicide attempts resulted in high impact critical injuries.

The office was also alerted by the Ministry of Social Services about 48 suicide attempts that didn’t result in that level of response.

Seven children in government care died by suicide last year, the report noted.

“Risk of suicide has been a priority issue for our office for several years,” Broda wrote. “However, tragically, 2023 saw a marked increase in suicide attempts, with more than three times as many being reported as critical injuries than in previous years — primarily among youth involved with the justice system.”

According to Broda’s report, suicide attempts and deaths by suicide made up 43 per cent of the notifications to her office last year.

Broda said anxiety and depression have “skyrocketed” among young people since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Stakeholders would tell us that we are in a crisis,” said Broda.

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She said the biggest factor that needs to be focused on is ensuring there are enough resources for young people to address their complex mental health needs.

A recommendation within the report said the government needs to make improvements in mental health, addictions and child welfare, specifically in group homes. Broda said she also wants to see better measurements of how the government is improving mental health services.

“It’s the speed at which we are moving that I am more troubled by,” she said.

Gene Makowsky, Saskatchewan’s minister of social services, said the provincial government is working to keep children out of dangerous situations.

“Obviously we want to keep our children safe,” he said. “There’s certainly work to do there.”

When asked why the numbers are so high, Makowsky declined to answer, saying it would be “speculation on my part.”

Makowsky pointed towards some of the programs the government runs to help kids in care, including recommendations made my the Youth Advisory Committee. That committee is made up of young adults who have been through the system.

The minister noted there is also funding in place for operational oversight units for three group homes in Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert.

Meara Conway, the NDP’s housing critic, said the number of suicide attempts resulting in critical injuries was sad to see.

Conway said the Saskatchewan Party Government has taken no substantive action to address suicides in recent years.

“I’m very sad to see these numbers, but I’m not surprised,” she said. “We knew this was coming, and we know this is a crisis, and we expected to see more from this government.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been amended to better reflect the numbers provided by the Children’s Advocate.