N.W.T. MLAs call for improvements to mental health and addiction services

Mental health and addictions services in the N.W.T. are under close review this week, following a report from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada that exposed a severe lack of equitable care across the territory.

Following Tuesday's report, the Standing Committee on Social Development received a public briefing last night regarding community mental wellness from the Minister of Health and Social Services.

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During the briefing, several MLAs called for changes and gave suggestions as to how to improve the level of care for residents, and youth struggling with addiction and mental health.

Ronald Bonnetrouge, MLA for Deh Cho, asked Health Minister Julie Green how the programs that are in place are helping N.W.T. residents with addictions. He acknowledged that some services do exist in the territory, but said he sees "the same ones" struggling in his riding and thatsupport servicesaren't breaking patternsof addiction.

"It's not changing," he said."I don't see it changing."

Bonnetrouge added that throwing more funding into on the land programmingis not a solution and that there needs to be a more hands on approach to supporting struggling residents.

In response, Julie Green said that they can't force anyone to access services.

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"In the time that they are struggling with their addictions or their recovery, our major job is to keep them safe," Green said. "To make sure that they have their basic needs met and that they are treated in a respectful and dignified way."

During the briefing, Lesa Semmler, MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes, focused primarily on Indigenous youth struggling with homelessness, mental health and addictions. She says that many do not want to seek care through child and family services, adding there was a stigma attached.

"As Indigenous people, we try our hardest to keep them out of child and family services."

Semmler suggested that child and family services should work in collaboration with income support so that youth could access funding for necessities without having to go directly through child and family services.

Bruce Cooper,Deputy Minister of the Department of Health and Social Services, told the committee the department needs to take a closer look at why some youth choose not to seek help through child and family services. He accepted Semmler's suggestionthat integration of services could be a solution, and said the department would take thatinto consideration.

"Certainly there is a clear understanding of the need and direction for better teamwork," Cooper said.

The Department of Health and Social Services and the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authorities agreed to implement a list of seven recommendationsfromthe Auditor General of Canada's report.

Some of those recommendationsincludesurveying residents with a questionnaire tobetter address the needs of different communities across the territory, as well as adapting hiring approaches to improve the cultural safety of addictions services.

The departments said they would put the recommendations into practiceby the2023-24 fiscal year.