Members of Calgary's South Sudanese community hosted mental health experts and various government leaders for a youth emergency crisis roundtable on Saturday to discuss recent tragedies among their members.
Organizers say as many as six young people have died to either overdose or suicide in the since September. In recent years, the south Sudanese communityhas grappled with gun and knife violence as well.
The gathering at Dover Community Centre Saturday afternoon was meant to encourage families to discuss mental wellness and addictions recovery.
Some of the mothers told CTV News Calgary they are desperate for answers.
“This is not joking. This is crime happening to our community. Before it (was) guns going on. Now it's killing quietly,” said Mary Malueth.
Her 23-year-old son Abiem Kuol Akel Abiem was killed in a Forest Lawn shooting on Nov. 11, 2016. Three men were charged.
Madeleine Mathiang’s son Rinato Toy was also fatally shot in 2017.
“Until now I’m not okay, I’m very sad. We ran away from big war back home. We are here to save kids,” she said.
“We are losing a lot of kids now.”
Awer Arob says families are now dealing with the loss of their children after overdose, and they want to see action taken to help them.
“We need to reach out and ask for help and get support, and I know support is there,” Arob said.
Members of the African Liaison Unit with the Calgary Police Services were invited, as were several sitting MLAs who say their presence demonstrates how seriously they are addressing the issues.
“We support recovery on the system, we support a full continuum that covers from prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery,” said Jason Luan, Alberta’s associate minister for mental health addiction.
Several families packed the Dover Community Centre for the meeting.
