NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Mental Health and Addictions Critic Doyle Vermette invited to the legislature three families from across the province who lost loved ones to suicide..The families and NDP party want the government to create a bipartisan “special committee of the legislature to study the mental health and addictions crisis.” .“Far too many Saskatchewan families are losing loved ones to suicide,” said Vermette..“That is why I am hoping the government will work with the Official Opposition to ensure that we have a bipartisan special committee with the right resources to save lives.”.Vermette asked the government in the legislature to form the special committee and both Premier Scott Moe and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Everett Hindley responded. .“This is precisely where some of the initiatives led by the minister of Mental Health have led us … is we do have some formal mechanisms for families, all families across the province … to provide input into our Pillars for Life, our suicide prevention strategy here in the province… And that is through the strategic planning and oversight team,” said Moe..“There are other ways to engage as well … through respective MLAs, through the minister, who I know has met with a number of families… But this structure is set up so that we can have direct input, in particular direct input from those families that unfortunately have lived experience in this area … to guide the government’s suicide prevention strategy.”.Hindley responded with specific government programs and initiatives underway to help with the mental health crisis and suicides..“There are a number of existing mechanisms in place right now through the strategic planning and oversight team, through the Pillars for Life suicide prevention plan … which consists of a number of officials from various ministries of the provincial government: Health, Education, Advanced Education, Social Services, Corrections. Also, the SHA (Saskatchewan Health Authority), the coroner’s office, are also part of this committee. But most importantly … we have patient and family partners who are part of that oversight team,” said Hindley. .“And further to what the premier said, I would offer to help facilitate some meetings between the families that are here today, any families that reach out to us with the oversight team to have these very important and worthwhile conversations.”.The government struck down the motion to create a special committee..Meili commented the NDP does not agree with the government that it's doing all it can to help the crisis..“This government has struck special committees to examine issues of concern in recent years like impaired driving and organ donation,” said Meili. .“We all desperately want to know why the government’s current approach to mental health and addictions is failing. By stepping up and supporting this committee, the Sask Party can show that the wellness and mental health of Saskatchewan people is a real priority that comes before politics.” .Saskatchewan had 204 suicides in 2021, an increase of five from the year before when the government introduced its Pillars For Life program.
NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Mental Health and Addictions Critic Doyle Vermette invited to the legislature three families from across the province who lost loved ones to suicide..The families and NDP party want the government to create a bipartisan “special committee of the legislature to study the mental health and addictions crisis.” .“Far too many Saskatchewan families are losing loved ones to suicide,” said Vermette..“That is why I am hoping the government will work with the Official Opposition to ensure that we have a bipartisan special committee with the right resources to save lives.”.Vermette asked the government in the legislature to form the special committee and both Premier Scott Moe and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Everett Hindley responded. .“This is precisely where some of the initiatives led by the minister of Mental Health have led us … is we do have some formal mechanisms for families, all families across the province … to provide input into our Pillars for Life, our suicide prevention strategy here in the province… And that is through the strategic planning and oversight team,” said Moe..“There are other ways to engage as well … through respective MLAs, through the minister, who I know has met with a number of families… But this structure is set up so that we can have direct input, in particular direct input from those families that unfortunately have lived experience in this area … to guide the government’s suicide prevention strategy.”.Hindley responded with specific government programs and initiatives underway to help with the mental health crisis and suicides..“There are a number of existing mechanisms in place right now through the strategic planning and oversight team, through the Pillars for Life suicide prevention plan … which consists of a number of officials from various ministries of the provincial government: Health, Education, Advanced Education, Social Services, Corrections. Also, the SHA (Saskatchewan Health Authority), the coroner’s office, are also part of this committee. But most importantly … we have patient and family partners who are part of that oversight team,” said Hindley. .“And further to what the premier said, I would offer to help facilitate some meetings between the families that are here today, any families that reach out to us with the oversight team to have these very important and worthwhile conversations.”.The government struck down the motion to create a special committee..Meili commented the NDP does not agree with the government that it's doing all it can to help the crisis..“This government has struck special committees to examine issues of concern in recent years like impaired driving and organ donation,” said Meili. .“We all desperately want to know why the government’s current approach to mental health and addictions is failing. By stepping up and supporting this committee, the Sask Party can show that the wellness and mental health of Saskatchewan people is a real priority that comes before politics.” .Saskatchewan had 204 suicides in 2021, an increase of five from the year before when the government introduced its Pillars For Life program.
