Glen Abernethy

This is one of the things available through the ASIST training, but also Mental Health First Aid, and help is always available through the healthcare providers in the communities whether a person seeks help on their own or whether family or friends bring them to seek care and assistance. It's really important to take warning signs seriously, and anyone who is thinking about suicide needs to know that there is help available.

Another source of support that we have in the Northwest Territories is actually the NWT Help Line, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Help Line is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Minister's statement earlier today I talked about the On-the-Land Collaborative Fund, and I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize some of the collaborative partners who are in the gallery today.

First, Stephen Ellis, the program lead for Northern Canada Tides Canada; Geoff Ray, the executive director of NWT Recreation and Parks Association; Sabrina Broadhead, the director of Aboriginal health and community wellness with the Department of Health and Social Services; Claudine Lee, the head of the environment communities, Dominion Diamond...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following letter dated March 1, 2016, to Mr. Michael Nadli, MLA for Deh Cho, regarding Oral Question 18-18(2), Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As we leave to building to move into the new hospital, as well as the expansion of Woodland, the building would get an assessment from Public Works and Services to determine whether there was actually any practical use for this building. We will certainly have those discussions, and I commit to having those discussions with the Minister to see if this is appropriate, but we also want to make sure we get the best bang for our buck and best value for every dollar that we have to spend, given that is going to be a significant expense. Long-term care facilities are a person's home, and we don't...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm glad the Member has read the report. This is a huge issue affecting us here in the Northwest Territories, and we certainly have to think outside the box to ensure that we are providing the 258 long-term care beds that are necessary by 2016. In the short term, we are staying in the old hospital until we have actually addressed the Woodland Manor expansion, but at the same time, and I’ve had discussions with other individuals who have indicated maybe we should look at a larger project in Hay River to accommodate the 50 beds that will be needed by 2026, we...

Yes, the department is in the early stages of actually developing a mental health and addictions strategic framework that will aim to address the gaps in current systems, improve services and program delivery across the territories, improve inefficiencies, and ensure that the public is safe. We are seeking advice from nationally recognized experts, as well as within our own system and throughout the Northwest Territories in all of the communities. The strategy will be released in the spring. Specific action plans under the strategic framework will be developed to address the key areas...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department does have a wide range of Mental Health Programs available across the Northwest Territories. Specific to suicide prevention, the regional health and social services authorities are funded to offer the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. This is often known as ASIST. ASIST is an internationally recognized training program based on best practices in suicide prevention and intervention. It is a two-day workshop that trains individuals to recognize the signs of someone at risk for suicide and how to safely respond to using the ASIST...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide Members with an update on an exciting new initiative to support on-the-land programming in the Northwest Territories. We know that there is huge demand for on-the-land programs in the NWT. They are important components of community wellness, healing, healthy living, and environmental stewardship and protection. They support the traditional economy, sustainable livelihoods, and building capacity in our communities. The benefits of on-the-land activities are well documented, and residents have told us that these programs are a priority for them, most recently...

As we are working for solutions to address the 50 beds that are going to be required in Hay River by 2026, I'm certainly going to be working with both Members from Hay River. I think this is a huge undertaking in Hay River, as it is in the Beaufort-Delta, as it is in Yellowknife, as it is in the South Slave, Sahtu, Fort Smith, and Simpson. This is a huge issue that we are going to have to work with all of the Members on, and I am committed to working with the Members to address this significant challenge.

This is a conversation that will obviously have to occur between a number of different departments. I have been in that building and I know if you walk from one end of the building to the other end of the building, at one point you are technically walking downhill, so it does need some significant work. Before we can even have a discussion about whether or not it's a suitable building for this particular discussion, we would need Public Works and Services to do the assessment on the building to find out what kind of mechanical upgrades it might require, and whether or not it is the best use...