Health Minister Jim Reiter stated the provincial government has taken suicide prevention seriously. (saskatchewan.ca)

By Derek Cornet

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Health minister not committing to Vermette’s suicide prevention strategy

Nov 6, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Health Minister Jim Reiter isn’t committing to the idea of a Saskatchewan-wide suicide prevention strategy, instead preferring to look at what other provinces are doing for best practices.

He made the comment to reporters Tuesday in response to NDP MLA Doyle Vermette’s Bill 618, which was re-introduced in the Legislature and calls for such a strategy. He stated the province currently has a Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan in place, noting there’s a review underway to determine if there’s gap in the policy in regards to suicide prevention.

“Whether you are calling it an action plan or a strategy, to me what matters is what actions are you taking, what programs do you make available [and] where are you targeting your resources,” he said. “I want to see if other provinces have something that is working well.”

Reiter mentioned he’s willing to meet with Vermette about the issue and noted he’d like to get an update to him soon about the work the Ministry of Health is doing in regards to suicide prevention. He also stated the review of the action plan could be finished by the end of the year and changes could result from it.

“We’re going to sit down and we’re going to decide how we’re going to address those gaps, and if that means it leads to some sort of a document, then we’ll certainly do that,” Reiter said. “If that means just a matter of policy or normal process to fill those gaps, we’ll do that.”

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Reiter also stated he believes the provincial government is serious about suicide prevention, adding it has been flexible in providing resources not only across the province, but specifically northern Saskatchewan. For example, he talked about the Roots of Hope program in some northern communities including La Ronge. If that program proves to be successful, he said the province would expand it.

When asked what Reiter would say to northerners Sally Ross and Linda Roberts, mothers who both lost daughters to suicide and who had travelled to the Legislature Tuesday, and northerners who have struggled to receive mental health assistance, he said his heart goes out to them.

“I appreciate what they are going through, my heart goes out to them,” Reiter said. “I would just reassure them it is a priority for government and we’re going to work diligently to do everything we can to assist.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno