Pubdate: Wed, 02 May 2007
Source: Omineca Express (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Omineca Express
Contact:  http://www.ominecaexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2141
Author: Arthur Williams

FORUMS ON ADDICTIONS SET

Northern Health is holding public consultations in 21 communities 
throughout the north on the issues of addictions and mental health services.

The meetings run from May 23 to June 27 and will give the public a 
chance to provide feedback on how current addictions and mental 
health services are working, what can be done to improve them and how 
the public can be more involved.

The first forum will be in Vanderhoof on May 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. A 
location has yet to be announced.

"It's an area that we have heard from stakeholders that they would 
like to see improved," Northern Health spokeswoman Sonya Kruger said. 
"I'm sure there are different addictions issues from community to 
community. We want to see what's working and what's not working."

Other meetings in the region include Prince George (June 6), Burns 
Lake (June 12) and Fort St. James (June 14). The meetings are free 
and open to the public.

In addition to the meetings, residents will be able to submit their 
comments by downloading a discussion guide and comment form from 
Northern Health's website, www.northernhealth.ca, or pick up hard 
copies at health units, health centres, hospitals or Aboriginal 
health offices. The comment forms and discussion guides will be 
available starting in mid-May, Kruger said.

Information gathered will be used to create a public report, expected 
this fall, and will be used by Northern Health's board of directors 
and service providers.

In 2004 Northern Health conducted a similar series of meetings on the 
broader topic of health services. Better access to service and safety 
promotion were two main themes which came out of the 2004 meeting, Kruger said.

That feedback resulted in the Northern Health Connections program to 
bus patients in remote areas to larger centres and the RoadHealth 
program aimed at reducing traffic injuries and fatalities, she added.

"Our board of directors will use that feedback to guide policy 
decisions," Kruger said. "We want to hear from people with specific 
experiences to share."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom