Eskasoni to receive more support

Timeline for when resources will take effect has not been announced

SYDNEY, N.S. — The province will provide more resources to support mental health services in the First Nations community of Eskasoni, as it continues to deal with recent suicides there.

Health Minister Randy Delorey said in a post-cabinet teleconference and scrum with reporters that 2.5 clinician positions were part of a wider announcement last year supporting positions across the province. How those positions would be shared was worked out with the First Nations communities, he said.

“They do have, independent of this situation, a very active community with respect to developing and providing health services within their community,” he said. “We really worked with them to allow them to take the leadership in identifying candidates for the positions; obviously cultural sensitivity is an important part of this.”

Delorey did not have a timeline for when the new resources would be put in place.

Premier Stephen Mcneil, who is also the province's Aboriginal Affairs minister, said recently the province would look for ways to support Eskasoni.

Eskasoni Chief Leroy Denny has said multiple suicides have underscored the need for more health-care resources in the Cape Breton community. Denny called on all levels of government to step up, noting more long-term funding is needed for culturally informed mental health, trauma and addictions services.

The Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs has called on Ottawa to put more money into the crisis line and mental health supports for about 4,500 people who are part of the Eskasoni First Nation.

CHRIS CONNORS SALTWIRE NETWORK Eskasoni First Nation Chief Leroy Denny, left, addresses the media at the Eskasoni Health Centre as health director Sharon Rudderham looks on. Denny said multiple deaths have left the community grieving in recent weeks and long-term funding is urgently needed to deal with a mental health crisis.•