Members of The Advisory Councils Appointed for The Youth Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Services Review

FREDERICTON (GNB)- The Child, Youth, and Seniors’ Advocate appointed the members of the Advisory Councils for the Youth Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Services Review and launched new information gathering tools today.

In the interests of using a wide scope and to cover diversity in this investigative review, Child, Youth and Seniors’ Advocate Norman Bossé appointed Léo-Paul Pinet and Graydon Nicholas as co-chairs of the Stakeholder Advisory Council, and Stacie Smith and Sue Duguay to co-chair the Youth Advisory Council.

The Office of the Child, Youth and Senior’ Advocate also launched a new website to engage all New Brunswickers, for them to share their experiences with Youth Mental Health Services and suggest suicide prevention solutions for children and youth. This website will soon include an online community survey.

The Youth Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Services Review was prompted by the passing of 16-year-old Lexi Daken in Fredericton.

“The outpouring of concern and support expressed by many professionals, family members and youth has been unprecedented,” said Bossé. “Since the review was announced, I saw first-hand how dedicated professionals, community leaders, service providers and youth wanted to be part of the solution and engage in this review process. The experienced and diverse members of our two advisory councils is impressive. The ideas shared from our first meeting will guide our office’s team in completing a thorough review to identify support and systems to minimize the risk of preventable deaths of youth to suicide.”

Bossé said he is committed to taking a child-rights based approach to the issues. The review will seek to determine whether the child’s fundamental right to life, survival and development and right to health are sufficiently protected in New Brunswick, keeping in mind the criteria of availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality reflected in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“We will carry out an investigation into government services, engage in a public consultation process, and hear from a multitude of professionals,” said Bossé. “My team will leave no stone unturned. I want to meaningfully engage New Brunswickers, who can fill out an online form, participate in the survey, call our office with input and meet me and my team during my provincial consultation tour. I believe if we explore solutions together, the opportunity for substantial change is possible.”

The Office of the Child, Youth and Seniors’ Advocate will actively solicit feedback and will continue to receive submissions from the public on the website and by phone, up until June 7.