Debates of October 20, 2020 (day 40)

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I'm just going back to my Member's statement on mental health in self-isolation centres. For me, the way I look at it, if you are in a self-isolation centre, just a helpline alone is not enough. My first question is for Madam Premier: can the Premier confirm if there are mental health workers, i.e. counsellors, ready and available at our self-isolation centres?

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When COVID-19 first struck the Northwest Territories in April, when we started to put things together and brought in our isolation units, I can't say at that point that we actually had those processes in place. Since then, we have partnered with the Department of Health and Social Services for what is called a "navigator." That person is responsible for when people are identified that they need any help, whether it be mental health, addiction, or other supports. Those people actually will provide the services and try to navigate the people and help to refer them to appropriate services, including mental health support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you for that response. My next question has to do with the first point of contact. Can the Premier confirm if employees working at the self-isolation centres have been given any training, for example, mental health first aid or anything pertaining to mental health?

My assumption is: no, they haven't got the mental health first aid training or are specialized in mental health. It is a specialty field, in all honesty. It's my background, as well. However, what I can say is that the employees who are at the isolation centres do know that they have access to the navigator, and also the people who are staying there also are provided the information that they can access that service if they wish. It's a volunteer service.

My third question is: can the Premier explain, if someone is having a mental health crisis while in self-isolation, where can they reach out for help aside from the navigators?

I do want to take a moment and say that, when the Member was doing his statement and he talked about how being in isolation can be really stressful on people, I hear you. I agree with you. I had two of my children who were in isolation when they came back from school, and I know it was tough on them, as well. Mental health is critical within that.

People, if they want, they can actually talk to any of the isolation staff who know how to access the navigator. In extreme cases, when disturbances have been found in the isolation centres and the RCMP have been called, they also know how to reach the navigator. The navigators, again, will link them in with the services available, but they are volunteer. At this point, unless somebody is a danger to themselves or others, we can't force them into taking those services, but the services, again, there would be a risk assessment because of COVID-19, especially if there is a fear of people having COVID-19. There would be a risk assessment done, so depending on the risk assessment, services can either be in person or they can be telephone or virtual care. We've now got in virtual care, which has been a tremendous support for our health system.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.