Sask. Party must reverse cuts to mental health care in the north: NDP

With more reports of an increase in suicide attempts in Black Lake, NDP Deputy Leader and Athabasca MLA Buckley Belanger is calling on the Sask. Party government to finally stop their irresponsible and callous cuts and immediately invest in mental health care.

“Mental health care is woefully underfunded across Saskatchewan but, in the North, the situation is even more serious,” Belanger said. “The suicide crisis in Northern Saskatchewan isn’t over, and these cuts from the Sask. Party are making a bad situation even worse.”

More than 4,500 people live in the Athabasca Basin but there is only one mental health worker living there to meet the communities’ needs. Recent Sask. Party cuts have also lead to a restriction in overtime at the Athabasca Health Authority. As a result, wait times have increased and access for communities like Black Lake has been dangerously reduced.

“When tragedies strike, the government is quick to express their thoughts and condolences and people appreciate that. But what they really want to see is action – not empty words – on things like mental health care to help prevent the tragedies in the first place,” said Belanger. “It’s not the people in the north that caused the Sask. Party to blow through billions with their mismanagement, scandal, and waste so why is the Sask. Party making them pay the price?”

Latest posts

BECK SAYS BETTER ECONOMIC STRATEGY NEEDED AS INDICATORS SHOW LAGGING JOBS, INVESTMENT AND MORE UNDER MOE

Saskatchewan Lost 6,100 Jobs While Nationally 88,000 Jobs Were Created

REGINA — Carla Beck says a growing list of economic indicators show Saskatchewan's economy is losing momentum and highlights the urgent need for a new economic development strategy focused on diversification, investment, innovation, and affordability.

REGINA POLICE REPORT NEARLY 14 OVERDOSES A DAY IN REGINA

Frontline Services Continue To Face Rising Overdoses In Saskatchewan’s Largest Cities

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is raising alarm bells following newly released data from Regina Police Service (RPS), which shows there were 415 overdoses in Regina in April. This represents a sharp increase from the 242 overdoses that were reported in March.

FRONTLINE WORKERS SAY FREQUENTLY BROKEN ELEVATORS JEOPARDIZING PATIENT CARE AT ROYAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Revelations About Major Patient Care Concern Come Days After Photos Of Mould Growing In Hospital ICU Surfaced

SASKATOON — Leaked notices and testimony from frontline workers provided to Carla Beck’s team indicates elevators at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon are frequently broken or stall when in use, forcing medical professionals to perform lifesaving procedures under dangerous conditions.

MOE’S MARSHAL SERVICE HAS ONLY TRAINED TWO NEW POLICE OFFICERS IN SASKATCHEWAN

Scott Moe Cuts RCMP Recruitment Funding Only To Steal Officers From The RCMP

REGINA – Carla Beck’s team is calling on Scott Moe and Community Safety Minister Michael Weger to explain why only two new police officers have been trained while the rest have been poached from other police forces.

NDP Caucus Office