Buried halfway down a recent news story about whether or not Canadians (even the RCMP themselves) “want” marijuana legalized, is an overture to the effect of no longer supporting the umbrella-organization par excellence in Canadian mental health policy. 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. So, to say that it’s ‘just to “work to reduce stigma (which it does through initiatives like Mental Health First Aid)” like that’s nothing (however much I rail against ‘stigma reduction efforts’ when they’re not supported by ongoing cultural change), or “merely” to help the homeless mentally-ill, is a little disingenuous, and I have to wonder if the Conservatives are serious when they suggest they wouldn’t continue to fund the MHCC – one of whose mandates includes mental health in …show more content…
What was the point of having the Federal Labour Minister advocate so strongly for mental health in Canadian workplaces as a whole, not just federally regulated ones? What, so we’re not going to do longitudinal studies, now, and see how effective mental health policies continue to be (or where they need strengthening)? What, so we’re just going to go away quietly now, and not raise mental health as the ongoing topic for discussion that it is? We’re going to turn a really good organization, whose point is research and policy-development, into… what? Into a national organization that does what the Center for Addictions and Mental Health does, already? Into an addiction-focused Canadian Mental Health Association? Into…um… oh wait, here it is! The Center for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, which, despite being housed at Simon Fraser University, DOES actually work
A national strategy for promoting mental wellbeing and mental health is No Health Without Mental Health.
& Riley, D. 2012, Harm Reduction in Canada: The Many Faces of Regression.6-7). Some of the drug related policies they promised were large fines for serious drug offenders, including marijuana growers and dealers of crystal meth and crack; and to prevent the decriminalization of marijuana. In reality they do not realize that if they were to enact the harm reduction method then there wouldn’t be any need for the dealers or any other drug offense on account of individuals would have access to the substance in a controlled
Mental health affects many public policy areas, such as a passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA), which aims to increase the drug coverage for seniors. Continued expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is by increasing the public insurance coverage for children.
This is an issue wherever anyone who is suffering from Mental Health, which is can be anyone in Canada.
Throughout history, marijuana and its use in Canada has been surrounded with a myriad of controversy. Since its controversial prohibition in 1923 (Schwartz), marijuana has been a hot point of debate amongst Canadians. Although many believe that marijuana is extremely addictive, has negative effects on brain function and creates more crime, it is painfully obvious that Canada would benefit greatly from the taxing and selling of marijuana. The decriminalization of marijuana will not only salvage hundreds of millions of dollars in wasted law enforcement, but also will create a large financial windfall for the government in addition to directing more citizens to a less harmful drug than alcohol. According to many people who disagree with the sale of marijuana, “marijuana has serious health implications” (Berman). However, a recent study
Mental health is a significant and growing issue affecting almost half (45%) of the Australian population (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2017, p. 2). Mental health refers to a person’s state of psychological and emotional wellbeing where they have the ability to handle day-to-day stressors and function constructively in the community (World Health Organisation, 2013, p. 7). The impact of mental health is substantial in Australia with 7.8% of the total health expenditure spent on mental health associated services in 2014-15, this equates to roughly $8.5 billion (AIHW, p. 25). The distribution of mental health disorders in our society is unbiased and affects a wide variety of diverse individuals. Given this however, figures show
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 widespread of cannabis use cannot be underestimated, with statistics from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008) confirming the vast figures of cannabis use, showing that “41 per cent of the population older than 12 years of age have used this drug at least once”. Gallup (2009) polls show a rise from 31 per cent to 44 per cent within 10 years, characterising that “if the public support were to continue growing at a rate of 1% to 2% per year, as it has since 2000, the majority of Americans could favour legislation of the drug in as little as four years” (Gallup, 2009). These large figures have been dubbed as the ‘normalisation’ of this “enculturated drug” (Room & Fischer, 2010, p.145). Some anti-drug organisations credit this sum due to the references in popular music such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan and blockbuster movies, such as American Beauty and Wonder Boys. However, the most recent claims of medicalization supporting criminalisation is the possibility that cannabis may be associated with psychosis. From recent events such as the Tucson shooting, compelling evidence came to light on how “regular marijuana use can contribute to depression, suicidal thoughts and schizophrenia” (Walters, 2002, p.25). The media as well as Frum (2011), journalist
From the initial contact of European settlers in North America to the lives of Indigenous people, has had a tremendous impact comprehensively. After so, this contact decimated every aspect of the Indigenous way of life. The health and well-being of Indigenous people initiated to worsen severely not only in the physical aspect but also mental. According to National Household Survey conducted in 2011, 1,400,685 people have been identified as being a member of one of the Aboriginal groups within Canada. Within these Aboriginal groups, critical mental health issues such as major depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder have been experienced at both individual and collective levels
Mental and health disorders also give a measure of hospital management for the mentally indigenous people. Statistics show that for the period 2005- 2006, health officials registered a high number of mentally sick patients of this kind in Australia. (Australian institute of Health and welfare and australian Bureau of statistics, 2008, p. P.111). Majority of them had psychoactive problems at 5:3 ratios for both male and female respectively, some of which were self induced. In Canada, the situation is caused by induced and self imposed racial discrimination. For all these reasons, the United Nations argued countries to avoid racial discrimination by promoting equality in the provision of health services and affirmative action in indigenous communities. (United Nations Development Program (UNDP) , 2000, P.10).
"Mental health is a separate but unequal system," says Patrick Kennedy, a former rhode island congressmen, "We have a wasteland of people who have died and been disabled because of inadequate care." The discrimination has extended its arms everywhere, even insurance, hospitals, the workforce and the government.
Due to the deinstitutionalisation that happened after the 1950’s mental health services are now community based and the bulk of the services are delivered in the home and community setting. This then establish the community as the target for
Evidence of effectiveness- A study conducted in Brisbane State high school as cohort based randomized control trial with 134 participants in grade 9-year students, the previous year 9 (n=126) acted as control group with 10 months follow up. Results reveals that students with intervention conditions of hopelessness reported significantly lower level of depressive symptoms and improved mental health and well-being. [20]
I am writing regarding the health services that are provided for patients with mental illness. I am a resident of Brampton West and I am delighted that you are representing me as your M.P.P. According to CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), there has been a report about a significant amount of people with mental illness. One in five Canadians have a mental health issues. In Ontario high schools, 34% of students recall having psychological distress while, 14% students proclaim they have a mental illness. This is a crucial conflict, due to stress over school, or social issues that affects many people. Crucial issues that need changes are long waiting times, insufficient counselling care, and underfunded therapy. If you’d take the time to put yourself in our viewpoint and think about the damage that anxiety and depression can cause, then you would understand why people are willing to do anything to solve this issue. People would rather commit crimes, take drugs, and commit suicide. Would you want this in your own country?
Through the strengthening of partnerships with the international actors Canada is already associated with, Canada will be able to increase the work of supporting communities through psychosocial supports. This recommendation calls for the adoption of an “International Mental Health Policy” This would enshrine a commitment by