The shortage of Registered Psychiatric Nurses in Saskatchewan will trigger an escalating mental health and addictions crisis unless the provincial government takes action. That, from the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan, which states in a news release that almost half of the province’s RPNs are set to retire soon.

The Association is urging the government to establish an additional 40 seats to meet the necessary 120 seats in the RPN education programs.

Executive Director and Registrar, Beverly Balaski, explains that 120 seats are needed to ensure there are enough graduates to fill current and future vacancies. She says RPNs have specialized education to intervene in emergencies such as overdoses, psychoses, and suicide crises, which are all on the rise.