Mr. Speaker, I am in receipt of Return to Written Question 21-15(4) asked by Mr. Villeneuve on February 3, 2006, to Minister Michael Miltenberger, Minister of Health and Social Services, regarding suicide helpline.
There are several helplines that are accessible to distressed individuals in all NWT communities. The NWT Helpline is a self-contained entity within the Canadian Mental Health Association, NWT division, and is funded primarily through NWT Health and Social Services. The NWT Helpline is staffed between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. every night of the year. The NWT Helpline is a confidential telephone support and referral service for callers who reside in the Northwest Territories. Outside of the hours that the Helpline is staffed, a 24-hour interactive voicemail system handles callers and provides valuable mental health information. There are three in-bound telephone lines, two local Yellowknife numbers and a 1-800 toll-free line that can be accessed by all communities within the Northwest Territories. The phone number within Yellowknife is 920-2121. The phone number outside Yellowknife and within the NWT is 1-800-661-0844.
Tele-Care NWT is a 24-hour family health and support line administered by the Department of Health and Social Services. The Tele-Care line is not intended for emergencies, however, it effectively functions as a referral service to community counselling resources. Tele-Care NWT is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is fully bilingual in English and French, with translation services in over 100 other languages, including NWT official languages. The phone number is 1-888-255-1010.
NWT youth in all communities have access to a 24-hour Kids Help Line. The Kids Help Line is a Canada-wide, toll-free, 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, referral and Internet service for children and youth. The phone number is 1-800-668-6868.
If a distressed individual chooses to access medical services, medical services can be accessed at all times. In larger centres, individuals have access to the emergency room of their hospital or health centre. In small communities, individuals have access to the local community health centre. All community health centres have on-call emergency service should a situation arise after regular work hours. Upon receiving a call, the health care professional at the community health facility will assess the situation and, if needed, can arrange for additional assistance.
A patient, who is medevaced to Stanton, is under a doctor's care. The doctor may discharge the patient and recommend continuing therapy, counselling or other social services support. The patient would return to the home community to access those services. A patient can refuse medical treatment or continuing therapy or counselling, unless that person does not have the capacity to make those decisions.
There are a number of suicide prevention options available in smaller communities. The new NWT Community Counselling Program is available across the territory. In addition to this program, many communities have offered intensive suicide prevention training to their residents through the Northwest Territories Suicide Prevention Training Program. Many community volunteers who have taken the training are available on an on-call basis. Also, community elders and clergy often make themselves available for counselling. Many residents also have access to employer-funded counselling services for themselves and their family members.
The NWT health and social services authorities and the department regularly provide communities with various forms of mental health information. In addition, the Department of Health and Social Services funds the Canadian Mental Health Association - NT Division, for mental health promotion. The Canadian Mental Health Association regularly provides communities with mental health awareness pamphlets, resources, best practices and contact information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.