The tough get going to combat youth suicide

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At 6 a.m. April 1 on a chilly overcast morning in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, a small group of young people took their first step on a monumental journey.

Their route would take them to Departure Bay where they would board the ferry for Vancouver.

From there the road will lead through the Fraser Valley, over the Rocky Mountains, through the prairies, and finally across Ontario to the capital city, Ottawa. They are determined to cover these thousands of kilometers on foot, with one support van, a few tents for shelter, and some sleeping bags for warmth on cold and rainy nights.

None of the eight walkers have attempted anything like this before. But they are determined to go the distance. Their target date for arriving in the nation's capital is June 21, National Aboriginal Awareness Day.

"No matter what happens we've got to be there," said Paul Lalibert, media organizer and support van driver. The young walkers are hoping to raise awareness and money for new programs to prevent suicide among the young people of the country.

"I'm hoping that maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to save a life," Lalibert said.

"We have a cell phone that's been donated and the number will be advertised on TV. So maybe someone might call us while we're on this walk. And if that happens, if someone on the other line is in a crisis, this walk will be stopped right at that point so that we can talk to that person. That is our hope."

The statistics on youth suicide are chilling. Between 70 and 80 per cent of all Canadian youth consider suicide before graduating from high school. In Canada more than 25,000 youths attempt suicide each year and more than 250 die. In 2000, 35 youths in British Columbia took their lives. Equally disturbing is the fact that Aboriginal youths who take their lives outnumber non-Aboriginal youths four to one.

Although all who are walking come from First Nations, the Youth Suicide Prevention Walk is to make a difference for all youths in Canada. The walkers have all dealt with suicide in their lives-either a personal attempt or the deaths of friends and loved ones. Young people consider suicide for reasons such as school problems, involvement with alcohol or drugs, poverty, and sexual, physical or mental abuse.

Kandace Hingley said she is walking because she wants to bring everyone together.

"I had a cousin who committed suicide. He took his own life in his bedroom. His family is still dealing with that. He was about 19."

At age 36, David Elliott is the eldest of the walkers, but like the others he has experienced the depths of despair. Two of his best friends killed themselves when they were 15 and 16. Elliott considered joining them. He has also spoken with many teens who have considered suicide.

The walk is just the beginning of the work, Lalibert said.

"The long dream that we have is that we will raise enough funds to build a building outside of Nanaimo, somewhere in the woods, where youth can come-where they can phone-where there is a 24-hour line with Elders and trained staff. That is our hope and our dream."

The young people set off with the blessing of the Elders and with gifts-sacred staffs, blankets, and feathers. There were also practical gifts from the community: a van donated by Carter GM, camping equipment from Wal-Mart, and vehicle insurance from the Squamish Nation. Friends and local artists donated items for the crew to auction to raise money along the way.

Asked how they felt setting off on such a journey, the young people had just one word: "Excited."

"I'm really excited because I, too, just about took my life in 1984 and now I thank god I didn't," Lalibert said.

"It's not an easy walk, because we're walking for the young people who have passed on. People are starting to come forward with names. We're hoping by the time we get to Ottawa that we have lots of names so that the federal government can see the problem."

The cell number to reach the walker for help or to donate is 250-7417795.