Health and Community Services
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
July 15, 2011

Mental Health and Infrastructure Funding Announced for Northern Labrador

Communities on the north coast of Labrador will benefit from further enhancements and support for mental health initiatives and health care infrastructure through an investment of $653,000 by the Provincial Government. The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health Community Services, was joined by the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and MHA for Torngat Mountains; Patricia Kemuksigak, Minister of Health and Social Development, Nunatsiavut Government; and, Boyd Rowe, CEO, Labrador-Grenfell Health, for today’s announcement.

“Our government continues to make key investments throughout the province that best address the needs of each region and improve all aspects of health care,” said Minister Kennedy. “The mental health initiatives announced for the north coast of Labrador and our infrastructure funding will make immediate impacts on the lives of the people living in the region and their communities. Working with the Nunatsiavut Government is essential to ensuring the success of these programs and the overall health of the region and we all look forward to the successful implementation and continuation of this important mental health programming.”

The Provincial Government is providing $75,000 to support mental health programs in northern Labrador. This funding is being matched by the Nunatsiavut Government for an overall investment of $150,000. This will help continue several ongoing initiatives and implement new programs for Phase II of the Suicide Prevention and Intervention Program. This funding will support:

• the Inuit Intergenerational Trauma & Addictions Healing training program for mental health and addictions support workers;
• training for the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills program;
• delivery of a Mental Health First Aid program to 15 – 20 new participants;
• the Youth Peer Group Program;
• extending the Survivor Support Groups to two new communities; and,
• expansion of the Healthy Living Children’s Integration Project.

In February 2011, the Provincial Government announced approximately $144,500 in funding to help initiate Phase I of the Suicide Prevention and Intervention Program.

“Through the Northern Strategic Plan, these investments support our efforts to improve the availability of health care services for the north coast of Labrador,” said Minister Pottle. “We continue to build upon the Provincial Government’s long-standing commitment in suicide prevention and intervention, and I applaud the Nunatsiavut Government for partnering with us to improve mental health services in northern communities.”

“The Nunatsiavut Government is very pleased that the Provincial Government recognizes the health and social challenges we face with the Inuit communities and are willing to partner with us to find long-term solutions and build capacity within our communities,” said Minister Kemuksigak.

Six communities, Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville, Rigolet, and Natuashish will also benefit from an investment of $578,000 in infrastructure funding for equipment and renovations including new lab instruments and aerosled stretchers. As part of this funding, the communities of Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik and Rigolet will receive new emergency patient transport vehicles.

“Labrador-Grenfell Health has made significant enhancements in the areas of behavioral management, family services and clinical medical services and we are pleased that our capacity to assist clients with mental health issues within their own communities will also be improved,” said Mr. Rowe. “These kinds of initiatives are a product of the collaboration we have with our Aboriginal partners and the Provincial Government.”

Since 2003-04, over $4.1 million has been allocated for upgrades to the community clinics in the communities of Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville, Rigolet, and Natuashish for capital equipment, repairs and renovations.

Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador furthered the Provincial Government’s commitment of advancing health infrastructure with a total investment of $272.2 million, which includes $200.6 million for new and continuing construction and redevelopment projects, $50 million for new equipment and $21.6 million for repairs and renovations.

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Media contacts:

Jennifer Tulk Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 699-6524 JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca	John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs 709-729-1674, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca
Kate Mitchell Deputy Minister of the Nunatsiavut Secretariat Secretary to Nunatsiavut Executive Council 709-922-2942 kate_mitchell@nunatsiavut.com	Alison Dower Regional Director of Communications Labrador-Grenfell Health 709-454-0128, 454-1205 alison.dower@lghealth.ca

2011 07 15             11:50 a.m.