Yukon’s response to national Shared Health Priorities

The Canadian Institute of Health Information released the results on their first three Shared Health Priorities this week. The priorities were selected by the federal, provincial and territorial governments along with the Canadian public as a way to measure and improve access to mental health and addictions services, and to home and community care.

The first three indicators are:

• Hospital stays for harm caused by substance use;
• Frequent emergency room visits for help with mental health and/or addictions; and
• Hospital stays extended until home care services or supports are ready.

Since tracking on the indicators began, the Government of Yukon has invested over $2 million in Home Care to provide better health care experiences for Yukoners and their families and relieve pressure on hospital beds and long-term care homes. In the spring of 2018, four new Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services hubs were opened in Dawson City, Haines Junction, Carmacks and Watson Lake to provide integrated services to Yukon communities. Additionally, the territory’s first ever Opioid Action Plan was released in the fall of 2018 to help tackle the opioid crisis in the territory.