Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What we hope to get from the addictions survey is to learn about what is working with the addictions recovery services that we currently offer at the Department of Health and Social Services and what changes would make those services more effective. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who have lived experience, who have actually used these services themselves or who have close family members who have done that. That survey is available online, and hard copies are available at health centres and other places where mental health services and addiction...

There is kind of a two-part answer here. The specific commitment is to reduce the number of hospitalizations resulting primarily from alcohol use. That is something that is collected by the hospital and healthcare system, and that is ongoing. With respect to the Spruce Bough, the department is working with them to develop reporting and data-monitoring tools that could talk to us in more detail about the kind of services that have been provided connected to the outcomes of those services, so how those two things connect. This information is being collected now, and it will continue to be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today on Pink Shirt Day, we come together to commit to creating safe spaces for each other and for our youth, places where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in significant ways and has highlighted the importance of supporting one another and advocating for those who need help and for youth in particular. We know that the harms associated with bullying can have devastating and long-lasting impacts on individuals, families, and communities. Having accessible mental health services is critical to support both victims...

The supports are there. They may not be well known, so certainly, I would like the LHAs and the LHOs to be aware of the Community Counselling Program, child and youth care counselling program in their communities so that they can make known to their tenants that these services are available to them and that then, hopefully, the tenants will take that up and will get the assistance they need. The Member may also be referring to housing support workers. I know there was a pilot program in Behchoko where there was somebody who was specifically working with tenants on housing stabilization, and...

The answer to the Member's question is: yes, the department is working with all locations where alcohol has been and is continuing to be provided during the pandemic. Together, lessons learned to inform the ongoing approach. That's not only the Yellowknife locations. There was also a managed alcohol program offered in Inuvik during the lockdown. The information is being gathered by interviews with providers, with users, and they have the classic questions of what worked, what didn't work, and what could we do better to create a formal managed alcohol program. We anticipate that this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am of course delighted to work with my colleague from the NWT Housing Corporation. I really believe that housing is a key component to recovery, that people need to have their own space to provide for sober living and a sober social life and that without that it's very easy to relapse and go back into shelters and couch-surfing and to be exposed to all of those triggers that sent them into their decline in the first place. This is truly an integrated case management issue, where the person who is trying to retain their sobriety is going to need a number of supports...

The suicide prevention fund is brand new as of 10 days ago. We have, in the department, a consultant who is responsible for providing support to communities to make applications to this fund and also to the On-the-Land Healing Fund. The person in this position has the following tasks: development of proposals; makes recommendations on potential contractors who may be able to assist in programming; and make linkages to larger Health and Social Services system where required. There is someone there who is in an active supporting role. Thank you.

I need to investigate that further before I can give a proper answer.

The Member is correct. The On-the-Land Healing Fund is now worth $1.8 million. It's been in place since 2014-2015 fiscal year, and the average annual uptake is in the 90 to 100 percent range.

I'd like to direct this question to the Minister of Lands. Just kidding. Sorry about the heart attack, Minister.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, there are no dedicated rooms for detox at Stanton. The rooms are made available as they are needed and they are made available to people who need medical management while they are withdrawing. For some people, that's a very important step. Withdrawal can be fatal if it's not managed properly. Other requests for medical detox are assessed one at a time. As I mentioned earlier in response to another question, most people actually do not need a medical detox. The...