SIIT adding 25 new seats to mental health diploma program

A funding boost from the Saskatchewan government means more seats in a mental health and wellness program in Saskatoon.

On Wednesday, the provincial government said it will provide $850,000 in funding to the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies to add 25 more seats to its mental health and wellness diploma program, raising the two-year program’s capacity to 175 students in 2023-24.

“SIIT’s Mental Health and Wellness Diploma program allows students to develop professionally while enhancing one’s sense of self,” Tavia Laliberte, the school’s academic vice-president, explained in a statement.

“Our graduates are ready to facilitate the process of healing with individuals and communities, bringing both Indigenous and Western-based holistic approaches to the practice of counselling. We are excited for more people to have the opportunity to enter this critical field.”

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The program’s students will work in clinical placements in Saskatoon and in Indigenous communities, the government noted.

Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan’s minister for immigration and career training, said the government is committed to ensuring enough workers are available to fill Saskatchewan’s growing health-care sector.

“With this funding, we are not only meeting these demands but also ensuring our communities receive the care and support they need,” Harrison said in a statement.

This year’s provincial funding for SIIT adds up to $9.7 million, the government noted, supporting operations, programs and services at the school.