Citizens need to see action

The provincial Liberal government announced recently that it will be investing $55,000 in creating a suicide prevention strategy to be completed by spring 2018. A strategy to “promote suicide awareness, prevention, resilience and a commitment to change.” While it is encouraging that public outcry such as the #HowmanyWade campaign is being noticed by government, its response is somewhat confusing.

In 2013, the P.E.I. government released the report: “Suicide Prevention and Mental Health in Prince Edward Island.”

In late 2016, the government released a Mental Health and Addiction Strategy with a strong emphasis on promotion and prevention and providing timely intervention.

Is the Minister of Health and Wellness suggesting that suicide prevention was not addressed in these two documents?

That the strategy, which involved 18 months of stakeholder consultation in the making and includes, as one of its five priorities, mental health promotion for people of all ages, does not include suicide in this priority? Do we need another year spent in developing another strategy document?

We respect the work of CMHA and agree with Reid Burke’s comment: “We are concerned about suicide — one is too many. “The bottom line is we want to reduce the amount of suicide, and I think with a more strategic approach we can do that…” However, since the strategy already exists, it is time to act and implement its recommendations.

Unless the strategy doesn’t address suicide — then that is a glaring, inexcusable and expensive omission.

The citizens of this province need to see action. Promoting resilience doesn’t build resilience; promoting a commitment to change does not make change — action does.

Karla Bernard, Education critic for the P.E.I. Green Party and Susan Hartley, Health and Wellness Critic for the P.E.I. Green Party