Health and Community Services
March 31, 2015

Strengthening Mental Health and Addictions Services for Families and Communities

Members Announced for All-Party Committee on Mental Health and Addictions

The All-Party Committee on Mental Health and Addictions held an initial meeting today and outlined the engagement process that will include province-wide consultations, a review of current services, presentations from experts, stakeholders and regional health authorities.

"Mental health and addictions impacts all of us. In any given year, one in five people will deal with a mental illness or addiction. We face this reality every day and we must address it collectively. The creation of the All-Party Committee creates a singular focus for advancing the care and services we offer to people. I look forward to engaging with Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and working with my colleagues to find innovative solutions for higher quality mental health and addictions services in our province."
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services

The focus of the All-Party Committee on Mental Health and Addictions is to make recommendations to improve programs and services to better serve the needs of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Minister Kent will chair the committee. Other committee members include:

• The Honourable Sandy Collins, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services and MHA for the District of Terra Nova;
• Kevin Pollard, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services and MHA for the District of Baie Verte - Springdale;
• Tracey Perry, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier and MHA for the District of Fortune Bay - Cape La Hune;
• Dwight Ball, Leader of the Official Opposition and MHA for the District of Humber Valley;
• Andrew Parsons, Opposition Critic for the Department of Health and Community Services and MHA for the District of Burgeo - La Poile; and
• Gerry Rogers, Third Party Critic for Mental Health and Addictions and MHA for the District of St. John's Centre.

"People throughout our province are living and coping with mental illness and addictions. Together as an All-Party Committee we aim to improve the outcomes and quality of life for those individuals and their families. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and I encourage everyone to participate in public consultations and express their concerns."
- Dwight Ball, Leader of the Official Opposition and MHA for the District of Humber Valley

The committee will hold province-wide consultations, with a detailed schedule to be released in the coming weeks. These public sessions will include a comprehensive list of stakeholders, and opportunities will also be provided for written and emailed submissions or through video conferencing. The process will be collaborative, open and transparent and will emphasize consensus-seeking and shared learning.

"I am proud that my private member's motion has brought us here. I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues so that together we can ensure the people of the province will be heard on the very crucial issues of mental health and addictions."
- Gerry Rogers, Third Party Critic for Mental Health and Addictions and MHA for the District of St. John's Centre

Information gathered by the committee will be used to develop a final set of recommendations that will be tabled in the House of Assembly.

The All-Party Committee on Mental Health and Addictions was established after a private members motion supported by all members of the House of Assembly in January of 2015.

QUICK FACTS

• The provincial All-Party Committee on Mental Health and Addictions has been established at a meeting held on March 31, 2015.
• The committee's engagement process will include province-wide consultations, a review of current services, and how the final report and recommendations will be delivered.
• The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, will chair the committee.
• Members include:
  • Kevin Pollard, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services, and MHA for the District of Baie Verte - Springdale
  • The Honourable Sandy Collins, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services and MHA for the District of Terra Nova;
  • Tracey Perry, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier and MHA for the District of Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune;
  • Dwight Ball, Leader of the Official Opposition and MHA for the District of Humber Valley;
  • Andrew Parsons, Opposition Critic for the Department of Health and Community Services and MHA for the District of Burgeo-La Poile; and
  • Gerry Rogers, Third Party Critic for Mental Health and Addictions and MHA for the District of St. John's Centre.

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Media contacts:

John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca	Carla Foote Director of Communications Office of the Official Opposition 709-729-6151, 691-6673 carlafoote@gov.nl.ca
Jean Graham Director of Communications New Democratic Party Caucus Office 709-729-2137, 693-9172 jeangraham@gov.nl.ca

2015 03 31                              4:50 p.m.