Mental health, addictions among major issues noted in Sask. Children’s Advocate 2018 report – 620 CKRM.com

April 30, 2019

Addressing mental health and addictions remains one of the biggest concerns in the 2018 annual report from Saskatchewan’s Advocate for Children and Youth.

The 45 page report, from Corey O’Soup, documents 20 child and youth deaths in 2018, an increase of two from the year prior. Of those deaths, eight were by suicide, a figure which alarms Health Minister Jim Reiter.

“One suicide is too many, we’re concerned about the suicides in the north,” he said.

Wait times for child and youth psychiatry were identified in 2018, with it being as high as two years in Saskatoon.

“The other part is just simply recruitment, it’s hard to recruit child psychiatrists,” said Reiter. “They’re on track to have a couple more start in July in Saskatoon.”

Read More: https://www.620ckrm.com/2019/04/30/210481/