MP for La Loche, Sask. says community needs more help for mental health after shooting

The member of Parliament for a northernSaskatchewan community where four people were killed in a shooting
last winter says virtually no additional resources have been broughtin to help people cope.

In January, two brothers were killed in a home before a teacherand a teacher's aide were shot at the high school in La Loche, Sask. Sevenothers at the school were wounded.

A teenage boy, who can't be named under the Youth CriminalJustice Act, is charged with first-degree murder and attemptedmurder.

He was to appear in court Monday. The Crown has served noticethat it wants the accused teen sentenced as an adult if he'sconvicted.

• La Loche needs 24-hour mental health services after mass shooting: MP

• Northern Saskatchewan MP Georgina Jolibois speaks out on suicides in La Loche

There's a First Nation near La Loche and the community has alarge aboriginal presence, but it is not on a reserve, so HealthCanada says the province is responsible for providing mental-healthsupport.

But New Democrat MP Georgina Jolibois saidPrime Minister JustinTrudeau raised expectations when he visited the area and shesuggests help shouldn't be hindered by jurisdictional boundaries.

Jolibois saidpeople in La Loche are showing signs ofpost-traumatic stress disorder. They're frustrated with having to
repeat their stories to mental-health workers who visit andresidents would like permanent, consistent support instead.

"Even at the high school, the people coming in are not the samepeople who are coming in (every time), and so the youth or the staffor others may not necessarily feel confident now that they'll getthe assistance," said Jolibois.

"Sharing their stories over and over again doesn't meananything. They need assistance, the right appropriate skills-basedassistance, to help them move beyond (and) continue on with theirdaily activities and function with their daily lives."

Jolibois said young people and families seem to be struggling themost.

Health Canada, province respond

Health Canada said in an email to The Canadian Press that itcontinues to provide mental-health supports through the Meadow LakeTribal Council to the nearby Clearwater River Dene Nation and isworking with it to develop a long-term response and recovery planfollowing the shooting.

The Northern Lights School Division has six counsellors until theend of the term and says one will be available through the La LocheFriendship Centre over the summer.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health says there are twomental-health counsellors and two addictions workers that reside inand provide counselling services to La Loche.

There are also threeregional trauma counsellors who provide assistance and support whenneeded.

It says an additional community mental-health nurse is to startproviding counselling services this month through the friendshipcentre.

The health region is also to hire a suicide prevention andcommunity wellness worker who is to be based out of the centre.

Jolibois doesn't question the number of positions, but suggeststhey're not all staffed, so service is piecemeal.

"The health region has had a struggle in filling the positionsfor the required numbers," she said.

"There's been virtually no movement in those areas. Residentsrequire assistance and virtually there is very little to noneavailable.

"The families are really struggling in the community."