By Angela Brown

Eye on politics

Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili hopes to have mental health strategy

Jan 31, 2019 | 5:40 PM

Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili hopes to see a provincial strategy to help people dealing with mental health challenges.

Meili visited the Battlefords Thursday. His stop coincided with the Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign that aims to promote awareness and raise money for mental health initiatives.

Meili had a tour of the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford during his stop in the area.

He said he was particularly impressed with the leadership and staff at the hospital, and the way they “care about, and care for their patients.”

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Also a physician, Meili said mental health is an important issue that concerns a lot of people.

“Across the province, there are way too many people struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses,” he said. “There is a lot of work that needs to be done on the prevention side, to make sure people have a chance to stay healthy, and have the support available when people need counselling, … or are in a crisis.”

Meili said Saskatchewan has one of the lowest amounts of funding for mental health in the country.

“In particular, when it comes to addictions and crisis mental health services, it’s really tough for people to access care.”

He added there is a great need for a detox or rehabilitation facility in the community to help people dealing with addictions issues in particular.

“That’s something that has got to change,” Meili said.

He added the province also needs a suicide prevention strategy. “When we have more and more young people taking their lives, it’s clear we need some more serious action,” he said.

Seeking candidate

Meili mentioned the NDP are currently looking for potential candidates for the local riding to get ready for the next provincial election in 2020. The constituency would need to request a date to hold a nomination meeting when a candidate will be selected.

Rob Feist was the NDP candidate in the local Battlefords NDP provincial riding association in the 2016 provincial election.

Meili said the NDP are working to have a strong candidate for the area in the next provincial election.

So far, Meili said two individuals have expressed an interest locally.

While in North Battleford, Meili also planned to attend the fourth annual Memorial Round Dance, as well as meet with Mayor Ryan Bater and council to hear their concerns.

He said he expected to speak to them about how to help the economy.

Meili pointed out how the PST expansion to more purchases has impacted businesses.

“We’re going to continue to pressure the (provincial) government to walk back because that was a poor decision,” he said. “It has really hurt local business. It’s a big problem.”

Meili is currently touring communities across Saskatchewan to hear residents’ issues.

He said he hopes to have a town hall meeting in North Battleford as part of his tour to discuss the NDP‘s proposal called Renew Saskatchewan, which aims to help people learn how they can use more renewable energy to “reduce their bills and have cleaner energy.”

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow