Speech from the Throne reveals 150 new addiction treatment beds to be added in Saskatchewan

As Saskatchewan reports an extremely high number of overdoses throughout 2022 and residents struggle with mental health issues, people are looking for support centers.

During the province’s Speech from the Throne on Wednesday, a number of elements were outlined to help meet the growing demand for mental health and addictions services.

The government has announced that it will invest $470 million, equivalent to more than 7% of the health budget, in mental health and addictions services this fiscal year.

They will also add 150 new addiction treatment places over a three-year period.

The Rapid Access Counseling program offered by Family Service Saskatchewan has also been expanded to eight other locations across the province.

“The mental health capacity building program in schools is being expanded and we are improving access to addiction medicine clinics,” the speech read. “We are working with partner organizations to fully implement our commitment to increase the number of detox spaces across the province.

“Revenues from our strong and growing economy will continue to be invested in more surgeries, more healthcare professionals, better mental health and addictions services, new healthcare facilities and many other priorities. keys to health care.

The government is also working in partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council and Regina’s Status/Treaty Indian Services on projects to address homelessness, although no further details have been released.

For the Saskatchewan NDP, however, the announcement falls far short of the level of support actually needed and doesn’t even address domestic violence.

“We have the highest rate of domestic violence in the country, double the national average and something that has never been addressed by this government,” Sask. said NDP Leader Carla Beck.

“They have failed to respond to calls for justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women, or to meaningfully address the rates of domestic violence in this province. I think this will be another place for this government to show how out of step it is with the realities of this province.

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