Canada declares state of emergency over suicide epidemic

OTTAWA, April 11 (UPI) -- Tribal leaders declared a state of emergency after 11 people attempted to kill themselves in one day in a small indigenous community in northern Canada.

A epidemic of suicide attempts has overtaken the Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario. More than 100 suicide attempts have been made since September, with 28 in March. One person died, Canadian media has reported. The youngest was 11 years old, the oldest 71.

On Saturday, 10 people tried to kill themselves.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the situation was "heartbreaking."

Since the declaration, the regional First Nations government is sending a crisis response unit including two mental health counsellors, social workers and mental health nurses to the community, the Health Canada federal agency said.

A rash of six suicides and 140 attempts over two months prompted a state of emergency last month in a Canadian First Nation community in Manitoba.

The country's 1.4 million native peoples make up about 4 percent of Canada's population, but have far higher rates of poverty and lower life expectancy. They are also frequent victims of violent crime, incarceration and addiction.

Canadian media reported the causes of the wave of suicides appeared to include drug abuse, bullying, and physical and sexual abuse.