March 11, 2021
View this exchange in the official record of province house here starting on page 80.
PREM.: MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - COMMIT
SUSAN LEBLANC Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. Police services have explained that they are not qualified to help people in acute mental health crisis. Both the Truro and Bridgewater police have said that they are not suited to the work. Bridgewater’s deputy chief has said, “We’re not full-time mental health caseworkers. We’re not in crisis management every day. We don’t have that experience from working full time . . . that’s not our profession.” I can table that.
Both chiefs say that much more needs to be done to help Nova Scotians in crisis, especially in rural areas. My question for the Premier is: Does the Premier agree with these police services, that when people call an emergency line in mental health crisis, they should not be met by the police?
THE PREMIER: I agree, we can do a lot more for mental health and addictions, especially what’s been shown throughout the pandemic. I am worried about those Nova Scotians who are experiencing mental health challenges and addictions. That’s why we created a new Office of Mental Health and Addictions within the Department of Health and Wellness. We’ll be hiring a clinician at the head of that office who will be working to ensure that we have more community supports - more capacity in communities - so that we do have more availability for mental health supports in Nova Scotia.
SUSAN LEBLANC: I’d like to thank the Premier for his answer. As an example, Mr. Speaker, last year alone 602 Nova Scotians in mental health crisis were met by the police after seeking help through the provincial crisis line; 7,390 more were referred out by police after someone called 911 searching for help. The police are interacting with people in mental health crisis in Nova Scotia every day. My question for the Premier is: Will the Premier commit, as part of his new initiative in mental health and addictions, to creating a province-wide mental health emergency response service?
THE PREMIER: As the member referenced in her first question, there is a crisis line that can be called and responded to immediately. There’s also another line, if it’s not of an urgent nature. We’re going to continue to bolster support for that and the Kids Help Phone and other supports we have. We’re going to make sure that we have more mental health supports in schools. We did increase the budget last time, but we’re going to look at this upcoming budget to make sure that we are supporting mental health in a more aggressive way.