Advisory Council Members Appointed In Mental Health Review

New Brunswick’s child and youth advocate has appointed advisory council members for his review into youth suicide prevention and mental health services.

Graydon Nicholas and Léo-Paul Pinet will co-chair the Stakeholder Advisory Council while Stacie Smith and Sue Duguay will co-chair the Youth Advisory Council.

The review was launched in March after the death of 16-year-old Lexi Daken, who took her life after waiting hours to see a psychiatrist at the Fredericton hospital.

“The outpouring of concern and support expressed by many professionals, family members and youth has been unprecedented,” Norman Bossé, the child and youth advocate, said in a statement.

“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.”

In addition to looking at Daken’s death, the review will also look at how young people are experiencing access to youth mental health services and suicide prevention and intervention services, and how their families are supported in relation to these services.

A new website has also been launched so people can share their experiences with youth mental health services and suggest suicide prevention solutions for children and youth.

Bossé said his team will leave “no stone unturned” as they carry out their review over the coming weeks.

“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,” he said. “I believe if we explore solutions together, the opportunity for substantial change is possible.”

Interim findings and recommendations are expected later this spring and the final report will be released in July.