Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t want to malign any of our healthcare professionals, but I’ve heard again too many times that patients do not feel that their issues are validated by the psychiatrists in Yellowknife, and patients often leave not only feeling more helpless, but also insulted.
Mr. Speaker, I haven’t even touched on the legwork that those seeking treatment are required to do just to access mental health services. There are countless phone calls to make and forms to fill out, with no one person they can look to to show them what needs to be done. They have to wade through a bureaucratic nightmare and become tireless advocates for themselves, just to receive treatment. This is not right, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I mentioned earlier that there was a time when Hay River had excellent mental health services, so I know that we can provide those services again, both in Hay River and in Yellowknife, but changes need to be made. I will have questions for the Minster of Health at the appropriate time. Thank you.