By Bryan Eneas

Northern MLA pushes SaskParty for better mental health care

Mar 27, 2018 | 8:00 AM

The Saskatchewan NDP’s critic for First Nations and Métis Relations has called for better mental health supports in the north.

Buckley Belanger, the Athabasca region MLA, questioned the province on the level of resources going to the North to address mental health during question period last week. Belanger told the legislative assembly he was approached by Fond du Lake Denesuline Nation Chief Louie Mercredi, who was upset about the lack of help coming to the northern community, which has recently suffered through a plane crash and a number of youth suicides.

“Once again, people in the area are feeling forgotten … since the crash, the trauma of the crash, more lives have been lost to suicide, with another person attempting [on March 18],” Belanger said in question period.

Responding, Greg Ottenbreit, minister for rural and remote health, said mental health is something the SaskParty takes very seriously and in times of crisis there are supports in place.

He said the HealthLine as a good point of first-contact for individuals in need of mental health supports and said funds have also been directed to the former northern health regions to get them the help they need to address the mental health situation in their regions. Ottenbreit also said the ministries of health, education and social services continue to work with First Nations and federal partners to coordinate responses to crisis situations.

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“We’ve also initiated the northern training and response registry, which will help communities in the North find the mental health and suicide prevention supports that they need in one phone call, one contact, be able to contact all those agencies,” Ottenbreit said in response to Belanger.

In an interview with paNOW, Belanger said he was unsatisfied with the government response.

“I’m not impressed, nor was I happy with Minister Ottenbeit’s comments or the response to the question,” Belanger said. “We need more specific, community-based initiatives to really be able to say that there’s something being done locally.”

Belanger said the provincial government is only spending a fraction of what it should be to properly address mental health in Saskatchewan. The NDP critic said he is “not going anywhere” when it comes to addressing the mental health situation in Fond du Lac and the entire North. He suggested community healing centres as a solution, noting better facilities would be able to contribute to the “journey of healing” many of the communities need.

“If we had those healing centres we could reach out and address some of the challenges,” Belanger said. “There’s none of those services available. It’s almost as if the government decided that they’re not going to be providing those services.”

Belanger said he and Chief Mercredi are becoming frustrated by the SaskParty’s lack of action in fulfilling promises they made after last year’s plane crash.

“Provide the bloody resources that you said you would,” Belanger said. “Don’t just simply patronize the people like they did making that statement.”

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If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or is in crisis, you can contact the 24-hour Prince Albert Mobile Crisis unit at (306) 764-1011 or the First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310. Services are offered in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktuk by request 24/7.

Warning Signs of Suicide:
•     Suicidal threats
•     Statements revealing a desire to die
•     Previous suicide attempts
•     Sudden changes in behaviour (withdrawal, apathy, moodiness)
•     Depression (crying, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, hopelessness)
•     Final arrangements (such as giving away personal possessions)

Communities in need of mental health crisis counseling services can call 1-866-885-3933 ext. 4 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas