On the same day the Sask. Party voted down an NDP motion calling for a suicide prevention strategy, NDP Leader Ryan Meili joined Samwel Uko’s uncle Justin Nyee to welcome the announcement of a Coroner’s Inquest into Uko’s death, and to urge the government to act to prevent further deaths by sucide in the province.
“Samwel was struggling, and he reached out for help repeatedly. That help simply wasn’t there when he needed it, said Meili. “When people are waiting an average of 13 hours to get mental health supports in our largest cities’ ERs, clearly more needs to be done to ensure that no other family goes through what Mr. Uko’s family has gone through.”
Justin Nyee reached out to the Opposition yesterday when he learned that the NDP was calling for a Coroner’s Inquest into his nephew’s death. He welcomed this morning’s news that an inquest would be taking place, and wants to see the province do more to support those in crisis.
“What happened to Samwel should not happen to any person,” said Nyee. “Samwel’s family welcomes the news that this inquest will happen, and we want to see more done so that people reaching out for help are not turned away so tragically, the way Samwel was.”