Suicide remains a leading cause of death in Northern Saskatchewan. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Provincial Politics

Vermette introduces suicide prevention bill for third time

Apr 28, 2021 | 1:16 PM

Cumberland NDP MLA Doyle Vermette’s suicide prevention bill is expected to be debated on Friday at the Saskatchewan Legislature.

He reintroduced The Saskatchewan Strategy for Suicide Prevention Act for the third time last week after it was most recently defeated by the provincial government in June 2020.

If passed, the bill would force the government to implement a suicide prevention strategy and would give the Saskatchewan Health Authority 180 days to start consultations with relevant stakeholders and groups. The authority would also need to report back annually on the progress being made.

“I’m going to take this government at their word that they truly believe that we need to increase mental health supports for all those across the province, especially in the North,” said Vermette said in a media release. “COVID-19 has exposed the tremendous gaps in our supports for mental health and addictions. It’s time to walk the walk rather than just talk the talk. There are too many families, too many young lives at stake.”

The bill would also require the Ministry of Health to provide guidelines to improve public awareness and knowledge about suicide, disseminate information about suicide and suicide prevention and make information about suicide statistics and risk factors available.

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Other requirements would be the promotion of collaboration across jurisdictions and regions to define best practices for suicide prevention and promote the use of research and evidence-based practices for the prevention of suicide.

Vermette also noted suicide remains a leading cause of death in Northern Saskatchewan. First Nations and Métis youth are disproportionately affected.

“You simply can’t ignore these numbers,” Vermette stated. “Behind those numbers are real people, real families, who have been devastated by this loss. It’s time to put some action behind these steps and to work with communities, especially northern and Indigenous communities to find a solution to address this crisis.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno