A bilateral agreement between the GNWT and federal government will give $6 million over the next five years in order to create an adapative approach to mental health and long-term care services in the territory.
The announcement Wednesday was made as part of Canada's initiative to invest $11 billion in health and social services across the nation.
Mental health and addictions will receive $2.4 million, with $3.6 million allocated to improve long-term community care for seniors.
Michael Hugall/NNSL photo
“Our government has made the commitment to support elders to live in their communities and homes for as long as possible,” said GNWT Health Minister Glen Abernethy about the implementation of further long-term care assistance in the community. “We need to provide long term care for people when services for them are no longer available.”
The agreement will go toward instituting a Territorial Suicide Prevention and Crisis Support Network. According to statistics from annual coroner's reports, between 2011 and 2015, the 47 suicides made up 10.6 per cent of all deaths in the NWT.
Abernethy said although resources have been in place, this new money will provide a more enhanced approach to dealing with suicide crisis in the NWT.
“If we have a community that has a crisis we want to make sure that we have a network that can bring people local tools like the helpline,” said Abernethy. “We have great people out there but we've never really had a coordinator response to crisis and now we will.”
Abernethy said the decision to invest a portion into suicide and addictions comes after the GNWT realized the overwhelming need for services in the territory.
“In the Northwest Territories revenues are limited,” said Abernethy. “We have a lot of demand for services ... but we don't always have the money we need for some of the planning and development. This money is critical in developing a network.”
NWT Seniors' Society gracious but question money's intent
“We are very thankful to have this money,” said NWT Seniors' Society executive director Barb Hood. “However the statement is rather broad and we want more answers.”
GNWT Health Minister Glen Abernethy and MP Michael McLeod announced Wednesday a bilateral agreement which will assess long-term care in the territory. The plan is to institute an International Assessment Instrument which will determine who needs certain types of care.
“As we age some people need more than one hour of home-care once or twice a week,” said Hood who spoke about the need for home-care workers in the territory. “Since we are in an isolated area, there are not enough support workers to help with our needs.
Hood added she plans to speak with Abernethy to get more clarification on where he intends to spend the $3.6 million.