REGINA - Saskatchewan NDP Leader Cam Broten says he would expand mental health care and make it more accessible if elected as government when voters head to the polls April 4.

Broten says that means providing free mental health support for children and youth.

It's the latest campaign-style announcement from the NDP, even though the campaign has not officially started.

The pitch also includes a promise to reduce waits for mental health care by creating two provincial mental health specialty clinics and hiring more mental health workers in northern Saskatchewan.

Broten says he was inspired to do better while spending time in the northern community of La Loche after a shooting in January killed four people, including two at the local high school.

He says teachers told him that they watch students struggle with mental health challenges.