Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The new national mental health strategy released on Tuesday by the Mental Health Commission of Canada has been well-received by several groups around the country, including the GNWT.

The strategy contains six directives based on input from people around the country and the Department of Health and Social Services.

Health and Social Services minister Tom Beaulieu said associate deputy minister Dana Heide worked on the development of the document and he's happy to see it come out right now.

"I think mental health is getting a higher profile all the time in the territories and across the country,” said Beaulieu. “I think this is good timing on the part of the commission."

It's estimated one in five Canadians has a mental health issue of some kind and Beaulieu said it's around the same here in the NWT, but with a couple of aspects to remember.

"We have residential schools impacts and also our addiction levels I think are a little higher and sometimes…people have mental health issues because of addictions,” said Beaulieu.

Beaulieu said the NWT's own mental health strategy will be released later this month.

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