Unacceptable Disparity Between Government Funding For Mental Health Compared With Physical Health Care

• September, 24 2018
• Dr. Sam Ozersky, MD

In a newly released policy paper Mental Health in the Balance: Ending the Health Care Disparity in Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) requested Ottawa to bring mental health care spending into balance with physical health care.
 
CMHA states that worldwide, mental illness accounts for about 23 per cent of the total disease burden, yet Canada dedicates only 7.2 per cent of its health-care budget to mental health. And, the need for mental health services and supports is growing.
 

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OPP reviewing mental health support for its officers

• September, 17 2018
• Dr. Sam Ozersky, MD

The suicides of three officers in as many weeks has prompted Ontario’s provincial police  (OPP) to launch an internal review into the organization’s mental health support system.
 
Collaborating with the OPP on this review, research psychologist Dr. Julie Devlin outlined a three-part approach that includes enhancing, examining and evaluating resources available to members of the OPP.
Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Vince Hawkes said Thursday “The OPP recognizes that there is stigma associated with suicide and mental illness. Although we don’t have all the answers, and I certainly don’t have all the answers, we will continue to work together to break down the barriers and provide support.”

From The Globe and Mail

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New government data on segregation of individuals with mental health conditions

• September, 10 2018
• Dr. Sam Ozersky, MD

The provincial Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS) released information on Aug. 30, 2018.  The data of segregation at six provincial correctional institutions identifies nearly 220 of the 248 segregated individuals – or 88 percent – as having possible mental health conditions, being at risk of self-harming or demonstrating suicidal behaviour.

CMHA Ontario, Correctional Health Care Coalition and other stakeholders worked with MCSCS to improve mental health and addictions issues in correctional facilities.  Ontario enacted a new Correctional Services Transformation Act, passed in May 2018. The Act prohibits individuals with mental health issues or developmental disabilities from being held in segregation, limits the duration of segregation for all...

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