“Our kids are literally dying as we continue to fail…” – Advocate for Children and Youth
Despite the Sask. Party’s attempts to gloss over the facts and gloat about their record on mental health care, wait times for children who need to see a child psychiatrist have grown to two years, according to the Saskatchewan Children’s Advocate.
“Last week, the Sask. Party boasted about their commitment to mental health care but their claims are out of touch with the reality being faced by many Saskatchewan families,” said NDP Health Critic Danielle Chartier. “Two-year wait times are nothing to brag about and children’s lives are being lost because they don’t have sufficient access to the mental health care they obviously need.”
Long wait times and inaction from the Sask. Party are particularly concerning in Northern Saskatchewan.
“Mental health care is woefully underfunded across the province but, in Northern Saskatchewan, it’s even worse. Some children are suffering so badly that they are turning to suicide,” said Chartier. “Instead of denying reality, the Sask. Party needs invest in improving and saving our kids’ lives and ensure that they have access to the care they need.”