(January 28, 2021) – David Brazil, PC Candidate for Conception Bay East-Bell Island, and Kristina Ennis, PC Candidate for St. John’s West, are marking Bell Let’s Talk Day by highlighting gaps in care for suicidal youth, and announcing that a PC government will work with all stakeholders to implement a youth mental health and addictions strategy to improve access to care.

The province’s Child and Youth Advocate recently issued a damning report saying young people continue to face barriers to mental health support, and many without proper care are taking their lives.

https://www.childandyouthadvocate.nf.ca/pdfs/ASoftPlaceToLandOctober2020.pdf

Brazil, the Party’s long-time shadow minister for health, said, “Hearing the concerns and recommendations of the Child and Youth Advocate, a PC government is ready to make the changes to our health care system so young people in crisis get consistent help and the best possible services when they cry out for help. The system has been failing them, and it’s time for talk to lead to action.”

Ennis said, “A PC government will improve access to mental health care by reducing the wait times for counselling and other key services people need in times of crisis, and take a team approach to health so people see caregivers sooner, long before a problem reaches the crisis stage.”

“Bell Let’s Talk is taking the stigma out of mental illness by getting everyone talking about the challenges so many of our young people face when they feel they have no place to turn. It’s time we step up with supportive programs that let young people know they’re not alone, and it does get better,” said Ennis.

Brazil said immediately on taking office, a PC government will get to work implementing the recommendations of the Child and Youth Advocate, the all-party committee on mental health and addictions, and the Jesso report on tragic inmate deaths at our province’s correctional facilities.

“It’s not good enough that people are dying because the system is failing to meet their mental health care needs,” said Brazil. “On Bell Let’s Talk Day, we need to do much better to ensure the talk leads to action, before more lives are needlessly lost.”
 

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Communications

(p) (709) 769-2216

-30-