February 18, 2011 - The recently revised NWT Suicide Prevention Training Program is being offered to residents in the Beaufort Delta who are interested in learning suicide prevention and intervention skills to help others.
The Department of Health and Social Services, in partnership with the NWT Suicide Prevention Steering Committee, will be offering the training program at the Gwich’in Wellness Camp outside of Inuvik from March 19 to 28, 2011.
February 10, 2011 - Mental health services and programs delivered through the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority (YHSSA) and the Stanton Territorial Health Authority (STHA) have now been integrated. The integration will improve visibility, access and care coordination for clients from across the Northwest Territories (NWT).
February 10, 2011 - During Session today, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Sandy Lee, raised awareness about the importance of maintaining good mental health.
February 7, 2011 - The Minister of Health and Social Services, Sandy Lee, informed Members of the benefits of "dropping the pop," during Session today.
January 11, 2011 - The Department of Health and Social Services has confirmed that bed bugs have infested at least three NWT communities, including Yellowknife.Bed bugs are found all over the world and the number of reported cases in Canada has been increasing rapidly since the year 2000. Bed bugs are reddish brown insects that have oval-shaped bodies with no wings.
December 15, 2010 - Media are invited to a press conference about increasing reports of bed bug infestations in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Duane Fleming, Chief Environmental Health officer, will be available to answer questions about the spread of bed bugs and subsequent treatments to eliminate them.
For out-of-town media:
December 1, 2010 - Financial abuse has been identified as the most common form of elder abuse in the NWT and the rest of Canada.
The Department of Health and Social Services, in partnership with the NWT Seniors’ Society and the YWCA, has launched a new campaign, “Together We Can Stop Elder Abuse,” to raise awareness and provide information on elder abuse – particularly financial abuse – in the NWT.
November 18, 2010 - The Department of Health and Social Services, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation recently launched a pilot program in Tuktoyaktuk to address mental health and addictions issues.
The pilot project will explore what type of programming will be useful and helpful in the community. Through the pilot project, an ideal counselling services model will be developed based on the community's needs.
November 16, 2010 - Minister of Health and Social Services Sandy Lee and Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Robert C. McLeod, announced that the focus of the Joe Greenland Centre will be on independent living and day programming for seniors. Current residents requiring long term care will be placed by the Territorial Admissions Committee according to their care needs. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) is now considering options to renovate the units currently administered by Health and Social Services.
November 14, 2010 - National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) is observed across Canada every year during the third week of November. This year NAAW is November 14-20, 2010.
NAAW is an important opportunity to focus on the harms associated with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and gambling. This year, the theme for NAAW is Celebrating Healthy Choices as it promotes addiction free lifestyles for individuals, families and communities.
During the Week, communities across the NWT will be hosting events:
