Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.
I'm wondering if the Minister can speak to beyond helping somebody with any physical support that they need within an emergency centre, what is the protocol for responding to a mental health crisis or suicide attempt? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for Kam Lake for that question.
NTHSSA has a systemwide policy on suicide risk assessment. It's a 10page policy which is available online.
The policy clearly states that the staff need to assess the risk and complete a meaningful safety plan. The risk assessment determines the level of intervention which could be minimum, moderate, or high. If the suicidal incident involves the hospital, there's a discharge meeting and a plan for which there is a template. And if needed, a multidisciplinary community care plan is created. So this could include access to counselling, which is available same day although, as the Member noted, that's not seven days a week. Any mental health. And mature minors who have the capacity to understand and consent, don't have to involve their families in their hospital visit and their aftercare plan. But it would be good practice if that were the case so that there is a reliable person who can be part of this person's recovery. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say that with the residents of the territory that I've had the opportunity to speak with that is not what has happened in their experience following a suicide attempt from a family member or from themselves. And so this is definitely a gap. And so I'm wondering if Health and Social Services tracks suicide attempts, and if they also track the response and the plan of care that is provided to each of those people who are travelling this journey because I will say that that is not the reality of the residents that I've had the opportunity to speak with. Thank you.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I certainly welcome the Member for Kam Lake to share specific cases with me to follow up. In terms of selfharm and suicidal ideation, information provided to the Member previously reveals that the number of selfharm or suicidal ideation incidents has, in fact, been developing over the years since 20162017, which is the first year in this fiveyear chart. Likewise, the number of people seeking counselling because of suicidal ideation, that is youth seeking counselling, has gone down as well.
That doesn't mean that there isn't a problem. There clearly is a problem with suicidal ideation, and we need to take that seriously. That's why we have made suicide prevention funding available to communities so that they can do their own suicide prevention training and awareness. Awareness and training. So that's where we're going with the prevention piece. And to reiterate what I said earlier, if the Member knows that the policy is not being followed, I encourage her to bring that to my attention on a casebycase basis so that we can figure out what the gaps are and how to address them. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is me standing in front of the Minister identifying a gap. These services are not being provided at the hospital. When people present at the hospital with suicide attempts, they are not given the supports that they need before they leave. Before they leave, they are asked if they are physically okay. They are put on a list to receive a call home from the community counsellor on the agenda of the or schedule of the community counsellor. They are not provided with an aftercare plan. They are not provided with a safety plan. They are not connected to the resources that Health and Social Services spends a lot of money making available to people, and they are not provided with a recipe for success.
We are not using the second chances that we are being given by residents adequately, and I'm identifying this gap right now. So will the Minister provide immediate direction to Health and Social Services to fill this gap, please. Thank you.
Thank you to the Member for her comments. I will take them into account.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My next question was related to, hopefully, getting a yes to fill that gap.
Will the Minister be willing to table a solution, then, that she comes up with her department in the House so that everybody knows what's expected of one another and what kind of service they can expect in dangerous situations. Thank you.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've heard the comments of the Member, and I will take them into account. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
