Question Period (30 October 2023)

From Hansard (30 October 2023)

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 Mental Health and Addictions Services for Youth

Ms. Mowat: — Mr. Speaker, families, community members, Justice Megaw, the Children’s Advocate, the Human Rights Commission all have raised serious concerns about the potential harm caused by this government’s use of the notwithstanding clause for their pronoun policy. We know that trans and genderdiverse kids experience higher rates of social isolation, selfharm, and suicide than the general population. But instead of supporting kids, this government is doing the opposite.

When will we see real supports to ensure that no more kids are losing their lives to suicide?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we take mental health and addictions very seriously on this side of the House, and no more seriously when it involves our children. That is why, as part of the new mental health and addictions action plan, Mr. Speaker, we are expanding mental health services for children and youth in this province.

We are expanding the rapid access counselling to 13 communities, with 11 more communities to come, Mr. Speaker. We’re also expanding the mental health capacity building from 10 schools to 15 schools, Mr. Speaker. And we are going to continue to expand that until at least one school in every school division across this province has the mental health capacity building available to it. Mr. Speaker, we will continue to work to support children and to support families as they deal with the mental health and addictions in this province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Mowat: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The minister says that these supports are working. Mr. Speaker, it’s been so clear by community and stakeholders that this simply isn’t enough. That’s exactly what we heard from Sarah Mackenzie when she came to her legislature to talk about the death of her child Bee, that these supports are clearly not enough. When will we see a robust plan of real supports from this government?

Hon. Mr. T. McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And once again, I would express my condolences to the family for their loss in this regard. Mr. Speaker, as I said, we have a plan to expand services to children and youth for mental health and addictions.

We are also providing a very broad spectrum of care on the continuum of care as we expand our mental health and addictions spaces across this province to more than double what we currently offer, Mr. Speaker. That would be a broad spectrum of services to individuals wherever they may be on that continuum of care. We will meet them to ensure that whatever stage of their recovery they’re at, whatever stage of their mental health capacity that they are at. Where they need the services we will meet them and provide those services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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