PROJECT HOPE SUPPORTS HEALTH PROMOTION IN HEARTLAND

The Heartland Health Region will soon have increased staff focusing on promoting mental health and preventing substance abuse thanks to new funding from Project Hope and Saskatchewan Health.

"People, especially our young people, need current, relevant information about substances and substance abuse, so they can make informed, healthy choices," Health Minister John Nilson said. "By working with the health regions, we will ensure that prevention and health promotion activities are based on each community's unique needs."

The region will receive $35,000 for the balance of this fiscal year and will receive $70,000 in annualized funding in subsequent years.

"This is exciting," Heartland's Community Services vice-president Lefa Sproxton said. "Heartland has pioneered some very positive initiatives such as the '180 Program'. This provides an opportunity to develop additional innovative programming for Heartland residents."

Health promotion and prevention are cornerstones of The Premier's Project Hope and the government's Population Health Promotion Strategy.

Healthier Places to Live, Work and Play…A Population Health Promotion Strategy for Saskatchewan challenges communities to move beyond traditional approaches to health promotion in order to create environments where people find it easier to take positive actions for their health.

Project Hope is a three-year plan to prevent and treat substance abuse. The government has committed $10 million of new annual funding for the project, based on the 15 recommendations contained in the report Healthy Choices in a Healthy Community by Legislative Secretary to the Premier on Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Graham Addley.

"During my consultations, prevention initiatives surfaced as a need again and again," Addley said. "Through Project Hope, this initiative will help to fill that need, moving toward a Saskatchewan in which every child has the best possible chance of growing up free of addiction."

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Jocelyn Argue Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-4083

Lefa Sproxton Heartland Health Region Rosetown Phone: (306) 882-4111