The Government of Saskatchewan rejected a Sask. NDP motion to create a special bipartisan committee to study the mental health and addictions crisis in the province.
The motion called on both parties to find solutions to the high number of suicides by hearing from affected families, experts and leaders.
The Sask. Party did not agree to the motion as the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Everett Hindley said that a committee already focuses on suicide prevention under the Pillars of Life program.
“There are a number of existing mechanisms in place through the strategic planning and oversight team through the Pillars for Life suicide prevention program,” he said during Question Period. “It consists of a number of officials from various Ministries from the provincial government.”
Doyle Vermette, the critic for Mental Health and Addictions, said that the province needs to make mental health and addiction services more accessible.
“Let’s make sure there are no barriers and hurdles for families; let’s make sure we are hearing what the experts are saying. Let’s listen to families and leaders, and let’s listen to frontline workers. Let’s look at other jurisdictions and make some recommendations.”
Vermette was hoping that both sides would be able to work together.
“Families are doing all they can to let people know, don’t forget about the loved ones,” he said. “People are struggling with mental health and addictions. We are losing too many, and maybe this is an opportunity for the Government, the Minister, the Premier, the cabinet, the backbenchers on both sides to work together.”
Three of those families joined Vermette at the Legislature in hopes for a committee to be formed.
Wanda and Chris Ball lost their son back in 2017 at 16. Wanda said that the system failed their son
“We want to be able to bridge the barriers so that these kids do get the help they need before it’s too late,” she said. “There are so many gaps, and as parents, we shouldn’t have had to fight as hard as we did to try and save our son.”
Jude Ratt and his wife Frannie lost their daughter five months ago to suicide.
“It was very heartbreaking,” he said. “A few days later, on my wife’s birthday. She had to bury her only child on her birthday.”
“We need the Government to step up and help. There are a lot of people that need help,” he said. “It’s almost impossible to help professionally unless you’ve actually attempted suicide and have to be taken to the emergency room. Even then, they fix you up and let you go without any release plan. It’s not acceptable.”
Ratt said there needs to be better access to professional help.
“If there was more professional help available when it’s needed, I think that would make a huge difference.”
He added that he hadn’t seen any change since the Pillars of Life program was implanted.
