Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask questions now to the Minister of Health and Social Services, also about mental health and psychiatric supports for children and youth. So I understand that health and social services is doing some kind of review of the entire system of youth mental health treatment. Can the Minister tell us what stage of the review it's at and when we can expect a decision or an action plan on a way forward? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd have to go back to NTHSSA on -- you know, the department. I'm not sure if they're -- what type of a review is going on. However, there are a variety of mental health supports throughout the system. But we continue to review mental health supports for children and youth. The department is working closely with partners to ensure that youth have timely access and appropriate supports ranging from early intervention and school-based services to clinical, virtual, and family support. However, the increased challenges of providing responsive specialized services to support complex needs of children and youth continue to be significant pressure, and the work is on going. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I noted in my statement, and it was also one of the recommendations that the standing committee made in its review of the Mental Health Act, that the lack of a pediatric psychiatry unit at Stanton is a serious gap that needs to be addressed. Can the Minister tell us how she'll be addressing this gap in pediatric psychiatric care? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now, access to specialized psychiatric services for children and youth continue to be challenging in our territory. While we do not currently have an in-patient pediatric psychiatry unit, children and youth in need of in-patient psychiatric care can be assessed and provided with basic treatment at Stanton Territorial Hospital. If there is need for, you know, more services, those would be referred through the health system outside. So to better meet the pediatric mental health needs, we also are utilizing the CYC staff which do provide connection when there are youth that are admitted in-patient onsite at Stanton, as mentioned previously, engagement with other providers. And so there is a review of best practices and considerations of potential options underway in a response to standing committee's recommendations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And in terms of options for out of territory psychiatric treatment, my understanding currently is that to get your child enrolled you have to go to social services and prove that you've exhausted all in-territory options. So given that many families may avoid going to social services for fear of having their kids taken away, worst case scenario, will the Minister investigate other options for approving out of territory psychiatric treatment for children, such as referral by a psychiatrist for example? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I just want to first of all say that child and family services is there to support families and children. So the way that we are trying to change the way that we're looked at is that if you've exhausted all services in the Northwest Territories as a family, whether it's financial, you know, if there's issues within the home, if you're a family that, you know, is having a hard time accessing care, then there is a voluntary service area where you can work with the child and family service team that can support you. So gone are the days where we are going to first take your children away and then only provide you supports. And if that instance comes up, please let me office know. But first, to answer the Member's question, is access to some -- as I said, specialized psychiatric services are supported through health referrals. In addition, child and family services uses contracted programs that may coordinate with external agencies to provide wraparound psychiatric assessments or treatment as part of a broader service delivery. So out of territory services through child and family services, there is a protocol that you have to be part of the service. So like I said, a voluntary service agreement with the family. For Indigenous, there's alternate through Indigenous Service Canada. Yeah, and so any additional supports if needed to apply, families can contact their local child and family service community counselling program office, depending on the nature of the support. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
