My name is Sheena Ritzand, and I am a mom of two who also works in the field supporting mental health. For years, I was aware of the gaps in our system and healthcare from a professional standpoint, but it wasn't until a family member close to me began struggling with mental health that I truly began to understand it from a personal perspective. It would be the beginning of my personal experience learning, experiencing, and feeling firsthand the flaws and gaps in our mental health care.

During this experience, I had the honour to cross paths with Jade Dulle, who I would learn not only had her own personal experiences with our mental health care, but shared the same frustrations I did, more than that, we shared a passion and drive to bring awareness and make changes to Saskatchewan's mental health system.

I knew I wanted to start and/or be a part of something that would bring change after experiencing firsthand the flaws and gaps in our mental health care system, and having the realization that my story is not unique. Countless individuals and families across Saskatchewan are facing similar challenges every day. 1 in 3 Canadians (about 9.1 million people) will be affected by a mental illness during their lifetime. Our struggles highlight fundamental shortcomings in the current system that urgently need to be addressed. By sharing our stories, we hope to shed light on the broader issues at hand and catalyze meaningful change that will benefit all those in need of mental health support in our province. 

We are writing to express our significant concerns regarding the Mental Health Services Act in Saskatchewan, which was created in 1986 and has seen minimal revisions since then. The current state of the Mental Health Services Act and Saskatchewan's mental health system is riddled with shortcomings, resulting in a failed system that is in dire need of review and change. 

We represent just two stories among thousands across Canada where the system has failed; our experiences have fallen through the cracks. Close to 5.5 million Canadians received health services for a mental illness in 2016-2017. That's more than the population of British Columbia. We are only two individuals among millions who have faced crisis and defeat, despite seeking support and resources from the system. Although it was likely not due to a lack of good intent, the system has demonstrated genuine ignorance towards the needs of individuals and their healing journey. 

Under Mental Health and Addiction Services, there is a strict adherence to offering only six counseling sessions, and counselors are not regulated under the Medical Professions Act. As a result, individuals are often provided with inadequate and irrelevant support for their specific needs and illnesses. Moreover, immediate and quality support comes at a cost that is inaccessible to many individuals and families who cannot afford it. The limited support covered by our healthcare system has led to extensive waitlists, and in some cases, the help comes too late. Consequently, there has been a significant increase in the number of mental health-related emergency visits, with limited bed capacity in emergency rooms resulting in individuals with mental health concerns being turned away or sent home prematurely.

The Mental Health Services Act ensures the safety of involuntary patients, yet there's a noticeable gap in legislation safeguarding the rights and needs of voluntary patients. According to the Act, "Subject to the regulations and to the availability of services, a person may, on his or her own request: receive assessment and services, etc" It's imperative for the Saskatchewan government to establish robust legislation that protects the rights of voluntary individuals seeking services, instead of persisting with ineffective plans lacking legal validity.

We, the undersigned, are initiating a petition calling for both the province and the Federal Government to take action. We demand the following: 
1. Regulating all mental health professions under the Medical Professions Act. 
2. Coverage for specialized mental health treatments. 
3. Additional funding allocated to the province to: 
     * Decrease wait times in emergency departments. 
     * Decrease wait times for specialized therapies and treatments. 
     * Increase bed capacity for mental health patients.
4. Update the current Mental Health Services Act or create new legislation to uphold and protect the rights and needs of voluntary patients. 

Thank you for supporting us in this important advocacy effort for provincial mental health reforms. Our impact can be even greater when we address both provincial and federal policies. Please consider supporting the federal petition https://chng.it/NjLjWqFrwL to further strengthen mental health care across our country.

We urge the province to listen to the voices of the people, empathize with the mental health epidemic, and make the necessary changes so that families, individuals, and communities can begin the healing process.

Sincerely,  
Sheena Ritzand and Jade Dulle