COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND SAFETY

Commitment 4.1.1: To enhance access to culturally-appropriate programs and services we will develop a comprehensive mental health and addictions framework that:

• Prioritizes improvements to outpatient mental health services with a particular focus on youth mental health services in schools and the broader community;
• Addresses gaps in integrated community-based services; and
• Enhances treatment options at local and regional levels, including aftercare.

In addition we will:

• Evaluate our land-based wellness programs;
• Pilot and evaluate mobile addictions treatment options; and
• Compile baseline data so that government can be better held to account for the performance of mental health and addictions services.

The Department has established a focus on mental health and addictions to contribute towards overall community wellness and safety. On November 2^nd, 2016, The Mind and Spirit Mental Health and Addictions Strategic Framework was tabled to guide work in the area from 2016 – 2021.

The framework sets the stage for the development of three action plans (Mental Health, Addictions, and Children & Youth Mental Wellness) that will prioritize improvements to outpatient services with a focus on youth mental health services in the schools and communities, address gaps in integrated community based services and enhance treatment options at local and regional levels, including aftercare.

The first of these Action Plans, the Child and Youth Mental Wellness Action Plan was tabled during the Fall Session of 2017. It outlines five major objectives: improving mental health literacy among children, youth and families; fostering a supportive environment to protect the mental wellness of children and youth; creating a capable and skilled community of adults to support the mental wellness of children and youth; improving access to mental wellness services and programs for children and youth and improving mental wellness programs and services through the use of locally relevant data and perspectives.

The Addictions and Recovery and Mental Health Action Plans are expected to be completed in 2018.