Daphne Penrose, the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth, is seen in a March 12, 2019, file photo.A report by Manitoba’s children’s advocate looking into the suicides of 22 girls has found gaps and barriers to getting help in the days before their deaths.
Penrose says it is clear “the adult system currently has the eye of the government” and funding for youth is being used elsewhere. The report looked at the risk factors of the 22 girls, most of whom were Indigenous and lived large portions of their lives in rural or isolated communities. Their real names were withheld for privacy reasons.
It tells the story of Gabriella, who died at 17. Her life was spent in and out of child welfare as her parents struggled with addictions. There was also physical abuse in the home.Gabriella became a permanent ward at 13. That’s when she began to hurt herself and was referred to a therapist. Later, she would disclose she’d been sexually abused.