Yukon mental wellness strategy vague, lacks commitments: opposition

Opposition members in the Yukon legislature arequestioning the substance of the Yukon Party government'smentalwellnessstrategy, released Thursday.

The strategy will payattention to coordinating existing programs, saidHealth Minister Mike Nixon. The government will also focus the first two years of the 10 year strategy on improving mental health and addictions services for children, young people and families, he said. The planincludes $1 million dollars in a fund available to First Nations, communities and non-government organizations.

While New Democrathealth critic Jan Stick welcomed the document, she said it lacks a clear plan to deliver immediate mental health care to people who desperately need it.

"How does this strategy address the eight-month long wait list for mental health assessments?" Stick asked. "What is this government's target when it comes to reducing wait times?"

Stick saidthe strategy is "missing clear timelines and measurable outcomes, as well as significant funding and personnel commitments."

Liberal leader Sandy Silver applaudedthe money for community proposals while notingmental health care is a clear government responsibility and the government must take the lead instead of off-loading it onto others.

"We're looking for leadership here," he said.

"We're looking for a long term vision as far as the long term forecast in the budget, there's one million dollars this year, which is the fifth year of the mandate of the Yukon Party, there's zero in it next year, there's no forecasted funding," Silver said.

Both opposition parties have called for more on-the-ground services for rural Yukon communities, but thegovernment has said it will not hire more communitymental health nurses this year.