Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Suicide is a major concern in the NWT and particularly in the Beaufort-Delta region where we have the highest rates of suicide in the territory. Suicide is preventable and most people who die by suicide show warning signs. What is the department doing to prevent suicide and raise awareness of the issue in the NWT? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
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 Model. There are upcoming workshops planned in Yellowknife, Aklavik, and Tulita. Suicide prevention and intervention is also a component of the Mental Health First Aid for Northern Peoples Training Program, which was jointly developed by the NWT and the Mental Health Commission of Canada in partnership with the three territories.
I've personally taken the Mental Health First Aid training. It's a fantastic training program, and I'd like to challenge all the Members to actually go out and actually complete this Mental Health First Aid training. It's very valuable, help break down the stigma of mental health and help your constituents, people across the territories, deal with the surge in suicides in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There is no single cause of suicide, but one of the warning signs is withdrawal from family and friends. What resources are available to directly support someone who might be thinking about suicide if they are withdrawn from those who might have intervened to help them?
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 actually staffed by trained counsellors who specialize in mental health and addictions and who are able to assist callers with helping them to de-escalate the immediate crisis situation, answering questions on suicide and on mental health issues such as stress management and depression. The Help Line can make referrals to community-based services, including health supports and community counselling programs available throughout the Northwest Territories and it also offers the option to have follow-up calls. Just so everybody knows what it is, the toll-free, throughout the Northwest Territories, Help Line number is 1-800-661-0844. I'd encourage Members to include this in their newsletters and maybe some of the advertising that that they're putting out so that people are aware of this important help line number.
Adding to that, is the department doing anything to build on these programs?
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 including mental health services, children and youth, and addictions.
In 2016-2017, the department also will be looking at expanding the NWT Help Line services to include live chat, which is a new function; telephone group sessions, which provides more opportunities for different discussions; as well as some work through Facebook pages. Health and social services authorities are funded to deliver the Mental Health First Aid training program and the ASIST Program each twice per year in every region, so Members will have lots of opportunities to get out and attend those training sessions. The department is also exploring partnership opportunities to expand training even further. We're always looking for ways to expand what we're doing in this area.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide some examples of things being done in the Nunakput riding to address suicide? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
In addition to the items that I've already described specific to the Nunakput Region, in Ulukhaktok the ASIST training, it took place in November last year, from November 24 to 25. The Suicide Awareness Event Workshop was held in September 2015. It included a community feast, a sharing circle, discussions, and addressed impacts, prevention, supports, and resources available in the community. National and territorial hotline numbers were also shared with the community members during that event.
In Paulatuk, Mental Health First Aid is scheduled to take place March 8 to 11, 2016, so in a week. In Sachs Harbour there was a community presentation by a counsellor in August 2015. The presentation included discussions of suicide risk in the context of substance abuse in youths, and recognizing an individual's pattern and behaviours, trying to create awareness within the community. Supports or programs available within the community were discussed, emphasizing the use of health centre staff, RCMP, and counselling, as well as continual reference to the 1-800 lines that are available. All of the suicide hotline numbers were provided at that time. In Tuktoyaktuk, once again, the Mental Health First Aid is scheduled for delivery from February 23 to 25, so that was last week.
A counsellor is working in the school twice weekly with children and youth providing individual support for individual children who are struggling. A women's group has also been set up with a strong following that indirectly addresses suicidal ideation and preventative measures in the context of relationships and other stressors. There are a number of things that are actually happening in the region on top of what we're providing at a territorial level.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
