Consultations begin on new mental health strategy

The provincial government is going to consult New Brunswickers on a new mental health strategy.

Health Minister Mike Murphy said Wednesday he has appointed provincial court Judge Mike McKee to head the task force.

McKee will spend the summer and fall talking to mental health professionals, patients and other groups. Existing provincial and national reports on mental health issues will also be reviewed.

The consultations will help develop a new mental health strategy so services are better able to meet the needs of residents, Murphy said.

Currently, mental health patients too often end up in the criminal justice system, Murphy said.

"The difficulty is that our jails in New Brunswick have become pseudo-mental health facilities and that's not right," Murphy said.

McKee will deliver his report by February 2009.