The members of Inatsisartut, who were present at the meeting, held a meeting all day on Thursday, i.e. without a set end time for the meeting. In the evening they finished at a quarter to eleven.
The last item on the agenda was a debate about what causes may lie behind suicide and how responsibility is placed in society. Aqqalu C. Jerimassen (A) was responsible for the presentation.
The members of Inatsisartut, who were present at the meeting, held a meeting all day on Thursday, i.e. without a set end time for the meeting. In the evening they finished at a quarter to eleven.
The last item on the agenda was a debate about what causes may lie behind suicide and how responsibility is placed in society. Aqqalu C. Jerimassen (A) was responsible for the presentation.
The efforts against suicide are not sufficient and are therefore deficient, acknowledged naalakkersuisoq for children, young people, the area of justice and equality, Mariane Paviasen Jensen (IA), during the debate.
– Today there are several personalized offers for people in crisis, including QAMANI – The strategy for the prevention of suicide 2023-2028, Inulerivik, TUSAANNGA and the Qamani app. But these offers cannot stand alone. Naalakkersuisut sees it as necessary to also strengthen structural prevention, says Mariane Paviasen Jensen.
More and more
Naalakkersuisoq also noted that although the mentioned initiatives have been a possibility, it has not led to a decrease in the number of suicides.
– But unfortunately, even though all this has been set in motion, the number of suicides does not decrease, and it is very painful, says naalakkersuisoq.
In 2023, fewer than 40 committed suicide. In 2024, the number increased to between 40 and 50, and in 2025 it increased further, so that 50 committed suicide.
New initiative
Therefore, the working method must be changed by the elected representatives, and this must now be started, says naalakkersuisoq as well.
– We have to change the working method. To work with this very difficult task, I need cooperation with all parties, says Mariane Paviasen Jensen.
Naalakkersuisoq did not say how she would concretely address the efforts during the debate, but stated that she had gained a lot from Inatsisartut’s members’ debate and therefore thanked them.
Proposer: Recognition is strength
The proposer also believes that the political initiatives to prevent suicide have not been successful.
– The subject is very heavy. A realization came from naalakkersuisut. I think it’s a strength to recognize that. After all, it is said that the previous way of working has not worked, even though many efforts have been underway, and therefore the message is that there is a need for a new way of working.
– The methods that have been tried have not been the right ones, says Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen to Sermitsiaq.
According to him, professionals should be consulted in the further work. He also says that, as an elected representative, he is not an expert in this himself and therefore finds it difficult to come up with better proposals. He therefore hopes that the officials in the department will come up with good proposals.
