Mental Illness Services for Children (April 11)
Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I met this morning with the father of a 15-year-old girl who has not only seen her share of hell but has made life hellish recently for those around her.
Despite the best intentions and cross-ministerial efforts of Alberta Health, Children and Youth, and Justice, she has never remained in a secure treatment facility long enough to receive the psychological assessment and support she needs. To the minister of health: why is it that this girl and many other troubled children she represents do not receive the prompt and thorough assessment and support they need?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I would hope that the children that he has just alluded to are receiving that treatment and support. In the particular case of the young lady that has just been referenced, I know that my staff followed up with that family. I’m hoping that they will not only identify her but that they will be able to help her and her family resolve the issues and that the young lady will receive the treatment and care she requires.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Chase: Thank you. To the minister. I very much appreciate the efforts of Fern Miller in your department in terms of explain-ing what can potentially be done, but the girl remains on the run.
Will the minister indicate when this government will produce a comprehensive plan for the improved treatment of mental illness in children?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Very soon, Mr. Speaker. As one of the undertakings of our five-year health action plan we’ve committed to developing a province-wide mental health strategy. It’s moving along very briskly. Alberta Health Services has committed to creating an advisory council at that level. We’ve added about 65 additional staff to deal with the addictions and mental health is-sues, and we’ve added an additional 35 of these spaces across the province. Thirty-four new spaces were just added in terms of residential treatment type beds in Medicine Hat and in Fort McMurray. We’ll continue to . . .
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Chase: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, this young lady doesn’t have a whole lot of time left. She’s out there. She’s 15 years old. She needs the government’s protection. When will the department fulfill the outstanding recommendation it received from the Audi-tor General in 2008 and provide a complete accountability framework for the provincial mental health plan and mental health services in Alberta?
Mr. Zwozdesky: Well, again, Mr. Speaker, we are working on that right now, and we’re also working very aggressively with the $500 million to $600 million that we spend in this area each year. Nineteen million dollars of that over the next three years is a partnership with Alberta Education, where we’re dealing with children or youth in that exact age range. We’re adding more counsellors. We’re adding more support staff. We’re adding more spaces. So there’s quite a bit going on. If there are people who need help and if they want it, they can come forward. We’ll be glad to do our best to help them out.
Alberta Hansard, April 11, 2011