Prompt action urged to continue momentum

Ottawa, ON, November 24, 2005 –  The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) applauds the Minister of Health for announcing today the establishment of a Commission on Mental Health and Mental Illness.  The CMHA views this as a momentous step towards the development and implementation of a strategy to address the mental health needs of all the people of Canada.

“We strongly urge the Minister of Health to promptly meet with representatives from the mental health/mental illness stakeholder community – including consumers of mental health services – to discuss the steps required to ensure this Commission becomes a reality in early 2006,” says Penelope Marrett, National CEO, the Canadian Mental Health Association.  “We must now focus on building momentum, even during this time of political uncertainty.”

This Commission’s work will be critical for the improved health of all people of Canada: the one in five who will develop a mental illness during their lifetime; the many more who will experience other mental health problems; and all those individuals around them whose lives will be indirectly effected – at home, at school, at work and in their communities.

Canada remains one of the only developed countries without a mental health strategy in place.  With more than six million people requiring a range of mental health services in this country’s communities – from rural to urban – a coordinated well planned approach to serving those needs is imperative, Marrett adds.

“The Commission’s success will ultimately be judged on the development and implementation of a strategy for mental health and mental illness for this country, but the government cannot do it alone.  We anticipate and look forward to being involved at every step along the way.”

The Canadian Mental Health Association is a national, voluntary organization that exists to promote the mental health of all people and to serve mental health consumers, their families and friends through education, public awareness, research, advocacy and direct services,  in more than 135 communities across the country. 

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For more information, or to set up an interview, please contact:

Joanne Koskie, Director of Communications, CMHA
416-484-7750 x 236  or 647-295-0674, jkoskie@cmha.ca