A group of Toronto students hopes “the Beautiful Game” helps youth in Attawapiskat First Nation end the epidemic of suicide attempts engulfing the community.

Fifteen members of the soccer team at Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School in The Junction returned Saturday from a seven-day trip to the remote reserve where they promoted mental health through their game.

A state of emergency was declared on the James Bay-area First Nation in April after a string of attempted suicides. In one case, there were 11 in a single day.

The varied reasons for such desperation have included poor health care, overcrowding, bullying and physical, sexual and drug abuse problems.

Attawapiskat resident Joseph Nakogee, 16, said there’s nothing for kids to do in his community.

“There are no sports during the summer and nothing is open and it is a struggle to find things to do,” Nakogee from Attawapiskat said last week via WhatsApp as there is no cellular service.

He added it was hard at first for Attawapiskat children to be around the strangers in their community and to embrace a game they know little about.

“Kids are really shy with people from out of town, but we started connecting,” Nakogee said.

“Some adults don’t connect with kids and there are struggles along the way.”

Nakogee wants to and keep his culture and stay in his community.

“It’s a hard question why I want to stay,” he said, adding too many have hurt themselves by their own hands.

“If stuff opens up for kids, like soccer, it will be good.”

Band member elders instructed school staff not to speak to the media about the soccer camp.

Soccer team member Damian Charles, 16, said he was saddened by how much joy one boy had when he was given a jersey to wear.

The soccer team’s school raised $25,000 to cover the cost of the trip and to bring the community soccer balls, nets, shoes and uniforms.

“He was just so touched by getting the jersey. When you are like me — from the city — you think this is a bad place because emotionally it’s pretty hard not to think of the things that happen here. But it’s not a bad place when you see their faces happy,” Charles said while at the Attawapiskat recreation centre where the team bunked out.

He noticed quickly how little the Attawapiskat children have. A 99-cent bag of chips in Toronto costs $8 on the reserve.

Charles also noticed how the Attawapiskat children didn’t want to engage at first.

“Soccer is a way to change that. They didn’t want to talk at first, but after playing we broke off into groups and they opened up,” said Charles.

Soccer coach Daniel Romano says there are no illusions the lives in Attawapiskat will be changed after a week of soccer.

“The idea is not to come here and change the world or be someone’s hero in a week,” he said.

At first, Romano said there was little eye contact with those driving by or walking on the streets.

“They wouldn’t look at us. Soon people passing by were honking and waving and we noticed the change. The boys are happy to see they have gained some trust,” Romano said.

“This has been a life-changing experience, an eye-opener for both communities.”

Romano added some of the kids on the soccer team have suffered from anxiety or depression stemming from a family crisis or social pressures.

“They can appreciate suffering. Soccer — an outlet in physical activity — has worked for us. It brought our community together,” Romano said. “Hopefully it helps here.”

Anabela Carneiro, a social worker with the Catholic school board said the students were briefed on what to expect in Attawapiskat.

“We discussed the conditions and the reasons the community struggles,” Carneiro said.