Two individuals have been appointed as suicide prevention workers by the Anglican church as part of their Indigenous ministry. 

The Anglican Church of Canada is hoping to address the growing concern of suicide rates in Canada.

Yolanda Bird is the suicide prevention worker for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and parts of northern Ontario.

"We're trying to develop a new structure," says Bird. "Not one structure works for everybody."

The structure that Bird is currently working to develop with the church is an Indigenous one, as the church works to address the high rates of suicide, particularly among First Nations youth.

"It's a definite big need in [the] community, especially in any reserve... there are so many different things that are happening every single day on reserve."

Bird called suicide an epidemic, and it's hitting First Nations communities hard. On her second day working for the church, a youth in their community took her own life. She was 18-years-old.

"I was helping out with the families and just trying to be there for them," explained Bird, who hopes to include grief counselling in her new role.

She hopes that the work she does through the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples and the Anglican Church of Canada will serve as a more personal approach to a growing problem.

"I think, basically, it's [about] creating awareness," says the prevention worker. "Bringing the issue out is basically the way to start a dialogue... so people can talk about it and learn more about suicide and the signs and symptoms."

Bird's own brother died by suicide at the age of 10. Only seven-years-old at the time, Bird says his death has deeply affected her throughout her life.

"It was definitely something that I grew a passion over because I always wanted to try and help someone who's going through these symptoms... "It definitely is a personal thing for me, I'll do anything just to help, just to be there for someone."

Though her new position is proving to be something of a learning process, Bird has been doing this kind of work her whole life. Having worked both in health care and alongside youth for many years, Bird is no stranger to the problems facing Canadian communities. In spite of the challenging circumstances surrounding her position, she's excited for the opportunity to make a difference in communities across Canada.

"It's definitely a learning process, every day is a learning process, but it's pretty neat."