The territorial government is working on a new plan to deal with mental health and addictions issues in the Northwest Territories.

The Standing Committee on Social Development (SCOSD) received a briefing on the draft Mental Wellness and Addictions Recovery Action Plan from Health Minister Glen Abernethy on March 13.

The plan is the final deliverable under : Promoting Mental Health and Addictions Recovery Strategic Framework released in November 2016.

SA国际影视传媒淲hile the original intention was to create two action plans - one for mental health and one for addictions - the draft action plan combines mental wellness and addictions recovery into one overall action plan,SA国际影视传媒� said Abernethy.

The combined approach is better aligned with best practices and also recognizes the two areas are often linked, he said.

The plan contains 33 actions grouped under four objectives the government wants to accomplish over the next two years. The first objective is to increase awareness, reduce stigma and create safe and supportive services, the draft plan states.

The department has a range of services that residents are not always aware of, said Bruce Cooper, deputy minister of Health and Social Services.

SA国际影视传媒淲e also know that sometimes the way we think people need to get this information actually doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 align,SA国际影视传媒� said Cooper.

The department tends to lean toward using social media to promote their services, but heard form residents that simple posters can be a good way to inform people of what's available.

The second objective is to enhance community, land-based, and cultural supports as part of the continuum of care.

SA国际影视传媒淲e know that recovery from addictions is easier with support from people who understand the journey and the associated challenges,SA国际影视传媒� said Cooper. SA国际影视传媒淲e will leverage lived experience by implementing more peer support options for individuals working on recovery from addictions.SA国际影视传媒�

The department will also be looking to provide community-based options for addictions treatment that allow people to stay close to home.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd that will be done through the online healing fund that will be enabling Indigenous governments to deliver these land-based mobile addictions treatments,SA国际影视传媒� Cooper explained.

The third objective focuses on improving access to services and support for mental wellness and addictions recovery.

The department recently faced criticism from Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson over the eight-month wait list to see a mental health counsellor in his community, which was due to staff shortages.

As part of this new plan, the department said it will implement services including e-mental health options in addition to or instead of face-to-face counselling, and will offer a variety of scheduling options to help reduce wait times.

SA国际影视传媒淎n example of this would be the use of single-session walk-in counselling,SA国际影视传媒� said Cooper.

Front-line workers and counsellors will be given additional training in addictions assessment and culturally respectful practices.

SA国际影视传媒淎lcohol addiction is the most common reason residents seek addictions treatment, it is also at the root of many issues facing our territory,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

In an effort to mitigate the harms of alcohol, the GNWT plans to work with the federal government to establish a task force to create a territorial alcohol plan, he said.

The fourth objective is to enhance the availability and accessibility of family violence supports.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e all aware that rates of family violence in our territory are approximately eight times the national average, this is a key area that needs coordinated and timely attention,SA国际影视传媒� said Cooper.

The department currently supports five shelters around the territory, and plans to implement operational standards for them.

But MLA Julie Green questioned why family violence was included in the plan, when it was only mentioned once in the Mind and Spirit strategy.

SA国际影视传媒淗ave you considered the stigmatizing effect of including family violence shelters in this plan?SA国际影视传媒� Green asked.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel very strongly that it has that effect and ISA国际影视传媒檇 like to know that youSA国际影视传媒檝e considered that effect.SA国际影视传媒�

Mental health, addictions and family violence are so integrated into the work done by staff in this area that it was hard not to include it, said Cooper, and family violence can be both a consequence of and a contributor to mental health and addictions issues.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur intention here is to really bring into one vehicle, something that aligns with the work and has connections,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淐ertainly the stigma issue is not something that we considered as an issue here.SA国际影视传媒�

MLA Kieron Testart agreed with Green's point.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think it fits as seamlessly as the other pieces do and I think the efforts to de-stigmatize mental health are substantially different than the efforts to de-stigmatize family violence,SA国际影视传媒� said Testart.

In response, Abernethy emphasized that this plan is not final, and feedback from the committee is part of its development.

SA国际影视传媒淚 hear Ms. GreenSA国际影视传媒檚 comments and I hear Mr. TestartSA国际影视传媒檚 comments around family violence and, like I said, this a draft,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is not a final document and we are looking for input.SA国际影视传媒�

Once the plan is finalized, it will be released to the public in the spring.