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The Saskatchewan government will be taking its first step into developing a Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan by appointing a commissioner to lead the initiative.

"The commitment we made one month ago today was bold and will require a dedicated and focused leader as commissioner." Said Dustin Duncan, the Minister of Health. "We want to take a patient first approach to improving mental health services for our residents."

Dr. Fern Stockdale Winder, a Saskatoon-based clinical psychologist, has been appointed and will be advising the Minister of Health in the development of a plan aimed at strengthening interventions for mental health and addictions issues for Saskatchewan people.

"In June it was announced that the government wanted to do a review of what services we were are providing for people with mental health or addictions in Saskatchewan, also what kind of response we are giving them if they are coming through different doors, people who might be seen through education or justice or policing and corrections or social services." Said Dr. Stockdale Winder. "So it's a review of not just mental health and addiction services within health, but a review of how we are responding across the service spectre."

Part of this review also includes an online survey. If you participate in the online survey you will be asked questions such as if you are a person with personal experience, if you are a person who is concerned about it or if you are a care provider. There is also room for you to tell more about your experience in regards to access.

"We have had fantastic response from the residents of Saskatchewan. We're sitting at over 2000 responses now which is fantastic." Said Dr. Stockdale Winder, "It speaks to how important this issue is to a lot of people in Saskatchewan."

She adds that they have had a good response from small centres and rural areas but most responses have been from larger centres. She says to be able to  look at some of the details better they need to hear from more people from rural communities.

"We know there are some really significant needs in those areas and that they are different than the needs might be in Saskatoon and Regina."

Some details include driving distance and limited access to service.

The results of the survey will be put into a report that will be in the form of a ten year action plan for what things would need to change to make services better for people with Mental Health and Addictions needs here in Swift Current and the rest of the province.

To take the survey visit http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/powerful-voice