Debates of May 16, 2007 (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask some questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland. It relates to mental health services and the demands that we are encountering here in the NWT. I was wondering if the Minister could give us a snapshot of the current level or the current demand for mental health services and our capacity to help people to deal with these, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 100-15(6): Mental Health Services Capacity

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t have a specific caseload that all of our workers have in the communities across the Northwest Territories at this point, but, from the department’s perspective, we have invested quite a substantial amount of money over the last few years in trying to strengthen this area of mental health and addictions. For example, in 2007, as I had stated yesterday in a number of questions, 77 positions were added and funding of about $6.6 million through health and social services authorities to strengthen this area. That went towards community wellness workers as well as 24 mental health and addictions counsellors and eight clinical supervisors. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 100-15(6): Mental Health Services Capacity

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is interesting. I kind of contrast that investment with the decision by the Department of Human Resources to actually reduce investment in counselling services in mental health support to our own employees. Because of the decision by the Department of Human Resources to choose a southern-based contractor for our Employee Assistance Program, does it concern the Minister that we are subsequently going to be losing resident professionals who could be part of the mental health regime here in the NWT, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 100-15(6): Mental Health Services Capacity

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the process we have used in trying to strengthen our mental health and addictions programs across the Territories is one we have worked in partnership with NGOs, ourselves, and health and social services authorities. I am not sure if this contract, the impact it would have on us. Of course, every link in the system will help strengthen our own position. So I would have to ask the department if there is going to be any spin-off to this. Of course, this program we work under is available to every resident of the Northwest Territories. As I stated, we are working to strengthen that.

One of the other things we are doing, for example, Mr. Speaker, as I stated yesterday again, is in March of this past year of 2007, there was a territorial advisory group that had a meeting and we are hoping to see their work by mid-summer to see where we are going with this whole area and strengthening how we deliver the program in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 100-15(6): Mental Health Services Capacity

Mr. Speaker, we know that within our own Employee Assistance Program, the growth in the number of calls for support has increased substantially between 2005 and 2006 and 2006 and 2007, something like a 42 percent increase. This signals that we have got a substantial need here. I wanted to ask the Minister if he has any indication from the people in his department about this, but a concern is that, now that we have lost these resident professionals from the Northstar contract, there is going to be a much greater demand on other parts of our mental health care system because we will not have this direct support available on the ground here. It is going to be from a southern contractor. Has the Minister heard any concerns of that nature from his department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 100-15(6): Mental Health Services Capacity

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department has not raised this issue with me in this area. We will continue to work on the program we have established in partnership with the NGOs and health and social services authority. This specific area hasn’t been brought to my attention. Thank you.