Eighty-two per cent of GN professionals involved in a review of childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 mental health services say availability is not meeting needs and 72 per cent say the quality of services isnSA国际影视传媒檛 adequate.
ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 among the findings in Our Minds Matter, which was publicly released by the Representative for Children and YouthSA国际影视传媒檚 Office this week. One of the documentSA国际影视传媒檚 key recommendations is that the GN should establish an in-territory facility that would allow children to be admitted for mental health treatment.
SA国际影视传媒淭hese services should incorporate family engagement and healing and be grounded in Inuit knowledge, culture, and parenting practices,SA国际影视传媒� the report states.
The report calls upon the The Department of Health to ensure that out-of-territory mental health services for children and youth are in place when those services cannot be provided within Nunavut, and that appropriate follow-up takes place after patients return to their communities.
The Department of Health should also deliver a comprehensive training program to provide supports to children. Communities with one than one mental health worker should have one dedicated to youth, the report further recommends.
Nunavut Arctic College should offer professional education programs to enhance the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 mental health workforce and improved mental health services are needed in schools, the document advises.
In the report, a real-life example is provided of a child in need of mental health service after becoming impulsive and violent following a traumatic incident. Four mental health professionals cycled through the boySA国际影视传媒檚 community over the next four months, delaying his assessment. Finally, after five months, a psychiatrist available via telephone determined the boy and his relatives needed family counselling, which they could not access within Nunavut. It took another six months to persuade the family members to participate in therapy.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is a story that highlights the lack of child-and-youth-specific mental health services in communities and in the territory, process confusion amongst government service providers, position vacancies, an over-reliance on a transient workforce, and a lack of trust in the system,SA国际影视传媒� the report reads.
The research engaged youth, mental health service providers, teachers, nurses and other civil servants. It also involved the examination of many GN documents from various departments.
SA国际影视传媒淢uch of what we heard during our review has been said before and some of the recommendations made in this report have been raised before. However, until children and youth are able to access the mental health services they need and SA国际影视传媒� have a right to SA国际影视传媒� in their own territory, we will continue to urge the GN to implement these recommendations. We will continue to stand alongside young people and advocate for change on their behalfSA国际影视传媒� Young Nunavummiut have spoken. It is time we listen,SA国际影视传媒� concludes Sherry McNeil-Mulak, NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 representative for children and youth, who authored the reportSA国际影视传媒檚 executive summary.
