Justice and Public Safety
March 4, 2016

Public Advisory: Child Death Review Committee Case Reviews

Under section 13.5 of the Fatalities Investigations Act, the Minister of Justice and Public Safety is required, within 60 days after receiving a report from the Child Death Review Committee (CDRC), to make public those recommendations relating to:

  • Relevant protocols, policies and procedures;
  • Standards and legislation;
  • Linkages and coordination of services; and
  • Improvements to services affecting children and pregnant women.
The CDRC forwarded two reports to the Minister of Justice and Public Safety on February 5, 2016. The reports examine the facts and circumstances surrounding two unrelated deaths of youth in Newfoundland and Labrador that occurred in August and September, 2015.

Case 1:
A youth died from a drug overdose.

Recommendations:

  1. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development assess the effectiveness of the current delivery of drug abuse education in relation to recognizing overdose symptoms and appropriate responses to ensure safety; and
  2. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development actively engage student councils in designing alcohol and drug prevention programs that include information on assisting someone who shows symptoms of overdose.

Case 2:
A youth committed suicide.

Recommendations:

  1. Labrador-Grenfell Health establish an Assertive Community Treatment team for youth with serious mental health problems and those at high risk for suicide;
  2. Labrador-Grenfell Health meet with Innu health and social service officials to review services to youth at risk for suicide and strengthen community responses; and
  3. Labrador-Grenfell Health, in consultation with appropriate Innu officials, create a mental health service that can be accessed in communities in Labrador.

This report has been forwarded to the Child and Youth Advocate.

- 30 -

Media contact:

Luke Joyce
Director of Communications
Department of Justice and Public Safety
709-729-6985, 725-4165
lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca

2016 03 04                              1:40 p.m.