Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in the week, on Monday, I made a statement on the NWT Coroner Service Annual Report, and in the report it talked a little bit about some of the pressing statistics that came up and, actually, the number of suicides that we had in the Northwest Territories last year. Seventy percent of them were related to alcohol and drug use. Even a bigger statistic over the last five years, 43 percent of the suicides happened in the Beaufort-Delta region, which is a very high number.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, what is his department doing to address these high suicide rates not only in the Beaufort-Delta region but across the Northwest Territories? What is his department doing in terms of suicide prevention? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The Minister of Health, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was a review done that sort of provided an analysis of the last 15 years and this review actually included a number of recommendations and information provided by the NWT coroner. Some of the key findings of this report were that, overall, suicide rates are decreasing over time, but that’s not true everywhere in the Northwest Territories. We know in the Beaufort-Delta the rates continue to be incredibly high and that suicide remains a critical public health issue in that area. We do know that alcohol and drugs are a common risk factor, but there are multiple issues that lead to an individual committing suicide. Alcohol and drugs happen to be one of them.
So we do have a Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan. We have improved our ability for individuals to get into treatment, if that is their concern. We’re also doing a number of other things throughout communities in the Northwest Territories. We have the Assist Program; we have the Mental Health Helpline; we have community counselling; we have a number of programs going on.
When the report came out, recognizing the concerns in the Beaufort-Delta, I did meet with leadership in the Beaufort-Delta as soon as that report was released and we had a discussion about what was in the report, the findings, and had an opportunity to talk to community leadership and to talk to them about what can we start doing to work together. The department has been meeting with people in the Beaufort-Delta on a regular basis and has been talking about other workshops or functions that could take place up there and we’re looking for community engagement and input as we move forward.
I appreciate the effort that the Minister and his department have been doing in terms of corresponding with the leadership in the Beaufort-Delta, but all he has to do is also look at some of the recommendations that were made and some of the past NWT coroner reports. Specifically, there was one I remember reading on a rehab centre for alcohol and drug abuse here in Yellowknife. Like it said, 70 percent of all suicides over the last five years were alcohol and drug related, seven out of 10.
Has the Minister looked at creating some type of rehab centre, whether it’s a day shelter or some other area for alcohol and drug abuse here in Yellowknife or even in some of the bigger regional centres? Thank you.
Thank you. Through our Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan we have contracts with four facilities to provide alcohol and drug treatment services in southern Canada. We’re looking at a mobile treatment program and we’re working with communities to deliver on-the-land programming. We also have 64 counsellor positions located throughout the Northwest Territories in 19 communities. On top of that, we’re doing things like the assist training. Something that I think could add significant value to all residents is the Mental Health First Aid. So there are a number of things that are occurring and we want to work with communities so that they have the tools in the communities to help people who are suffering and may be at risk of committing suicide. Thank you.
I know there is also the issue of the mental health status of individuals who end up being part of the statistics in terms of suicide and, as I said, 43 percent in the Beaufort-Delta.
I’d like to ask the Minister, what is he doing to address some of the waiting times for counselling needs as well as this assist training? How do people in the Beaufort-Delta or any of the small communities know how to get a hold of this mental health toll-free line as well as being able to access some of these counselling services at a sooner time rather than having to wait? I think it’s a two-month waiting list right now. Thank you.
Thank you. The department and the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services are aware of the high rates of suicide in the Beaufort-Delta. The authority in that area has been working really closely with Aboriginal governments and communities and individuals to try and find meaningful ways to assist and help, which includes getting the information and increasing access to counsellors. There are counsellors that are non-government counsellors or non-government support and we’re trying to make sure that people are aware of them.
One thing I would like to ask the Member and all Members is to continue to push and highlight and promote Mental Health First Aid so that we, as individuals, all people, can have some skills to recognize. But the great thing about Mental Health First Aid is it will help you identify in your communities and your regions where active programs and services exist. So if you are aware of somebody who is at risk or in danger or may be contemplating suicide, you can direct them to where they can get help in your region, because many of the communities and many of the regions already have great people in place and great services in place whether it’s government’s or private. It’s a matter of being able to direct the people to the right places at the right time when they need supports.
So I would encourage the Member and all Members to contact us and work with us to get Mental Health First Aid to as many residents of your regions as possible.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the Mental Health First Aid is a great training tool, a great counselling service tool. I know that we’re doing a revamp of the Mental Health Act.
In the case of the revamping of this new Mental Health Act, is the government, physicians, RCMP, counsellors still following the old Mental Health Act and all the provisions that are included in that Mental Health Act to give the people that need assistance when they need it, or are we will using the old Mental Health Act while we are revamping a new one? Thank you.
Yes. The answer is yes. That is the act that is current; that is the act that is in place. In my opinion, it is old, outdated and badly needs to be revised. I have listened to Members, and many of them have said exactly the same thing. I’ve had opportunities to talk to professionals who are involved in providing services. Almost all of them say exactly the same thing. We recently got the LP back from committee and we are now moving forward with drafting. It is a big bill, basically a full rewrite. But until that bill passes in this Assembly, we have to use the old bill. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
