May 30, 2013
Municipalities: Making a Difference for Mental Health By Louise Bradley
When you consider that one in five people will experience a significant mental health problem or illness in any given year, you realize very quickly that mental health is an issue that cuts across all parts of society, across varied social backgrounds, and across every level of government.
As municipal political leaders and senior staff gather in Vancouver this week for Canada’s largest national municipal conference, it is important to highlight the work that local governments are already doing to improve mental health in their communities and to stress the importance of building on that work.
Vancouver is not only known for its ocean front and mountain views. As a municipality, it is also known for working in partnership with the province and the private sector to address homelessness among people with mental illness. Vancouver was one of five cities, along with Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Moncton, that hosted a federally-funded research project that tested the model of Housing First, which aims to end chronic homelessness by combining immediate access to housing with recovery- oriented intervention. Individuals experiencing a serious mental health issue, who had remained homeless for years, now are being successfully housed in adequate, affordable, and suitable settings.
Like the social outcomes, the economic outcomes are also bright. For people who were using the most services before the study began, Housing First resulted in an overall savings to government of $9,390 per person per year. In other words, for every two dollars spent on Housing First for these individuals,
$3.00 are saved through the reduction in other shelter, health and justice services.
Vancouver is just one of the municipalities across the country where new approaches to improve mental health for all are being discussed, implemented and adapted. In the Region of Peel, a large municipality west of Toronto, 4800 municipal employees are receiving training to break down the stigma experienced in the workplace that prevents people from seeking help when experiencing mental health problems. In Calgary, the police service is piloting a program developed by the Department of National Defence to reduce stigma and improve mental health outcomes. Municipalities across the country have offered Mental Health First Aid training. Mental Health First Aid training, just like physical first aid, ensures that there is someone who can intervene in the event of a mental health crisis or who could identify an emerging mental health problem.
There is unprecedented momentum to improve mental health in Canada, but the challenge is steep. 6.7 million Canadians are living with a mental health problems or illness today. By comparison, 2.2 million
people in Canada have type 2 diabetes. The cost to the economy of mental health problems and illnesses is estimated at $51 billion per year.
In Canada, the economic impact of mental health problems and illnesses that stems directly from workplace losses is estimated to be $20 billion. Mental illness accounts for 70% of the total cost of disability claims. On top of the costs of lost productivity, employers are increasingly being held legally responsible for psychological health and safety in the workplace.
In partnership with the CSA Group and the Bureau de normalisation in Quebec, the Mental Health Commission of Canada provided leadership in the development and release this year of the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety which provides guidance to address mental health in the workplace. Municipalities are encouraged to join other governments and employers in adopting the Standard to improve workplace mental health.
If Canada is to be successful at improving mental health outcomes for all, it has to be a joint effort by all levels of political leadership, as called for in Canada’s national mental health strategy, Changing
Directions, Changing Lives. Municipalities are key partners – and often first-line responders – in confronting mental health problem and illnesses, suicide, and challenges to support and recovery. As 2000 municipal leaders gather this week at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference to discuss key issues and challenges their communities face, I urge all municipal leaders to keep mental health front and centre, and to remember that they have a vital role to play in sparking change.
This article was submitted to the Vancouver Sun for publishing on May 30, 2013 to coincide with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference taking place in Vancouver, B.C.
To see the version of this article published in Vancouver Sun visit www.vancouversun.com.
(http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/Opinion+Making+difference+mental+health/8458275/story.html)
ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF CANADA
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to help people who live with mental health problems and illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives. Together we spark change.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada.
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca
The views represented herein solely represent the views of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Production of this document is made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.
