Mental Health Disorders In Canada

The provision of mental health services in the U.S. is a social justice issue that affects vulnerable populations in a variety of ways, including: limited access to quality mental health programs, especially in rural areas; the stigma associated with seeking mental health help; and discrimination against those with mental health issues. The far-reaching implications on our current system and policies of mental health care mean that it is a pervasive issue in the United States. According to the Scientific American, “Mental health care is one of the biggest

According to the World Health Organization, mental illness will affect approximately 25% of people at some point in their life (“WHO Qualityrights”, n.d.). Despite that, the current mental health care system in the United States is inadequate. Many aspects of the system need improving, especially the barriers to service. In fact, approximately 20% of individuals are left without necessary treatment for their mental health disorder (“Mental Health”, 2016). Mentally ill individuals have difficulty accessing necessary mental health care services for various reasons; insurance, socioeconomic status, and mental health stigma can all function as barriers to treatment. Insurance discrimination can make it difficult for individuals to find treatment (Han, Call, Pintor, Alarcon-Espinoza, & Simon, 2015). Gaps in insurance coverage can also be a barrier, as they disrupt the long-term treatment process (Gulley, Rasch, & Chan 2011). Socioeconomic status has been found to negatively affect appointment scheduling (Kugelmass, 2016). Finally, stigma in our society can also stop people from seeking out treatment that they need (Bathje & Pryor, 2011). The mental health system in the United States is not capable of caring for the mentally ill, as insurance, socioeconomic status, and perceived stigma all act as barriers that prevent people from receiving the treatment they need.

Mental illness is nondiscriminatory, can affect any person and transcends all social boundaries. As a result, the issues surrounding mental illness have become common discussion pints among policymakers dedicated or required to formulate solutions around providing the long-term care needed by many patients. Healthcare reforms and changes to the systems that provide services to those living with mental illness and funding for services to the facilities providing care have become major social issues (Goldman, Morrissey, Ridgley, Frank, Newman, & Kennedy, 1992). The reason for this is primarily how it can affect a market economy and how much of a burden diseases of the mind can be in a country such as the United States. According to the 1991 Global Burden of Disease study conducted by the World Health Organization mental health burden accounted for “more than 15% in a market economy such as the U.S.” (The Impact of Mental Illness on Society, 2001). The study also states that for individuals over the age of 5, varying forms of depression are the leading cause of disability. A more recent study indicates that mental illness in general is found in more than 26% of the United States adult population, of which 6% are severe and limit the patient’s ability to function (Martin, p. 163. 2007).

“Despite many calls for change, mental health care continues to be separate from the rest of health care. Difficulties in accessing mental health care have become a “de facto” in the US. Although screening for mental illness in primary care has increased in recent years, subsequent treatment remains inadequate and referral for specialty treatment continues to suffer from long delays. In the National Comorbidity Study, only 21.7% of individuals with major depressive disorder received adequate treatment (Grembowski, 2002).”

Every year, as many as 8 million Americans who have serious mental illnesses do not receive adequate treatment. Kelly, a mother of three, has battled depression for 15 years. Her psychiatrist tried to have her admitted, but there was not a single available bed. Not in the city, not in the entire state. Kelly is one of the millions of people who were turned away from services. “States looking to save money have pared away both the community health services designed to keep people healthy, as well as the hospital care needed to help them heal after a crisis” (Szabo). Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, states that mental illnesses cost the country at least $444 billion a year, with only one-third of it going towards medical care. States should better fund mental health care because it has been neglected, it is a vital part to a person’s overall health, and it should be listed as a priority.

When asking any Canadian citizen why he or she loves Canada, one of the main reasons will usually include the free health care. The health care system is one aspect of Canada that makes citizens patriotic and proud and makes those from other countries, like the United States, a bit envious. All around the world, Canada is known to have a reputation for the great healthcare and free health care policy. With such a wonderful system, it is hard to believe that the mental health care system is subpar compared to all other aspects of the health care system. Due to lack of funding, support, and accessibility, Canada’s mental health care system is not able to provide satisfactory care for those with mental illness.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada, in its current form, shares knowledge of how mental illness impacts Canadians across the board – First Nations and Inuit, new Canadians, youth, seniors, and workers.

Mental health services are essential to the overall wellbeing for Canadians, especially for those who face severe mental issues everyday. The Canadian Mental Health Association provides exceptional care and services. The article, Age, Gender, and the Underutilization of Mental Health Services suggests that “the mental health needs of individuals within and outside of North America are not being adequately met. Mental illness is prevalent; roughly 30–50% of people will experience a mental disorder in their lifetimes” (Mackenzie, C. S., Gekoski, W. L., & Knox, V. J. 2006). The CMHA strives to offer care and help for those of the community who need it.

Study that looked at the population of Manitoba found that people who have mental illness consumed twice more services than the rest of the population (CIHI, 2005). Thus, more high users who have mental illness consumed more of psychiatric services (CIHI, 2005). Studies that looked at the differences between heavy mental health care users and other health care users of the health services have found that mental health care users are younger and live in low socio-economic status (CAMH, 2016). In addition, the Center of Addiction and Mental Health (2016), found that the cost of health services for heavy users of mental health is 30% higher than the other high consumers of other health care, and were relatively younger than the other HCUs (CAMH, 2016). Further, studies have found that most of heavy mental health care users had a lower-socio-economic status (CAMH, 2016). Moreover, the elderly population of high-users also reported having experienced psychological distress (Donald, et al,

In interpreting the significance of the disproportionately high rates of mental illness and substance abuse found amongst Canada’s First Nations communities, it is critical to recognize that these groups have been long marginalized, and typically live in remote areas bereft of sophisticated and large-scale health service facilities (Gone & Trimble, 2012). With this reality in mind, the implications of the statistics and analyses presented above demonstrate that a very significant degree of institutionalized oppression has served to bring about the contemporary condition of First Nations communities in relation to mental health. Given that the information presented above points to a highly significant and disproportionate health burden

Mental health is defined as an individual’s optimal care in managing the stress of everyday life, through their own unique approach and can efficiently and successfully make vital contribution within the community they live in (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 2013). Since a break in a person’s optimal mental state affects not only the individual but society, it is important to understand what it means to have a break in one’s state of mental health and the different categories that is associated with mental illness. Focus will also be paid to why there is a need for the reformation of the mental health act in Canada; the social determinants that is associated with mental health and their contribution to society’s health’s. Finally, focus also need to be placed on how mental health is being promoted to society the stigma generally associated with it.

The economic burden of mental illness in the Canadian Health Care system is high and will rise due to an increase in the expected number of people living with mental illness, as a result of the aging population and growth of the Canadian population. Moreover, the need for effective treatment of these individuals through primary care will be even more pronounced.

Seeking support systems for mental health is difficult enough due to societal stigma surrounding mental illness and without help, can lead to fatal consequences such as suicide (Crabtree & Haslam, 2010). Although they are not as immediately fatal as cancer and heart disease might be, they should receive a greater priority. For example, health programs focus on these chronic diseases and have strategies and goals for them to be reduced in the population, but for mental disorders, especially in Western contexts, there is significantly less healthcare budget and resources, but more community-based measures (Lawrence & Kisely, 2010). For the systemic issues of the mental healthcare system, it may be suggested that they attempt to lessen the discrepancy between the two by making a more integrated care system instead of a separated one. Lawrence & Kisely emphasize the fact the advantages to this system would be the reduced stigma and access for mental health serviced.

Access to mental health care is not as good as than other forms of medical services. Some Americans have reduced access to mental health care amenities because they are living in a countryside setting. Others cannot get to treatment for the reason of shortage of transportation or vast work and household tasks. In some areas, when a

Annually, almost 26 % of adults (over the age of 18) suffer from a mental illness or about 57.7 million people, 45% of those have two or more mental illnesses (Lee & Thyer, 2013).  In 1955, the United States had 558, 239 state psychiatric beds or 340 beds per 100,000 population, but now the U.S. has 35,000 state psychiatric beds or 11 beds per 100,000 population. Nationwide this has created a shortage of psychiatric beds. It is not uncommon to wait for days in medical emergency rooms for a psychiatric bed because of the limited number of psychiatric beds (Torrey, 2016). When patients are not seen within six hours in any emergency room it is considered