Madam Speaker, Margaret Somerville, an ethicist at McGill University, has said, “Hope is the oxygen of the human spirit; without it our spirit dies...” That encapsulates, in a very real sense, the despair that those who may consider ending their lives by suicide might be facing.
My colleague mentioned the importance of dealing with the social, biological and psychological factors as we deal with suicide prevention, and I agree with her 100%. I am wondering if she would agree that we could add a spiritual dimension. For many in this room and in aboriginal communities, there is a spiritual dimension to providing hope that far too often we neglect.
I am wondering if she would comment on her perception as it relates to the need to recognize the spiritual dimension for those who may be facing this despair in their lives.