May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As critic for Mental Health and Addiction, I want to make sure mental health isn’t forgotten amidst Alberta’s devastating drug poisoning crisis. We can’t ignore the significant barriers to addressing mental illness and the opportunities for government to improve access and reduce stigma.
With Mental Health and Addiction becoming a separate health organization, I’m hopeful this oft-forgotten branch of our health-care system gets the attention and resources it deserves. Alberta funds just 13 adult psychiatric beds per 100,000 population, less than half the national average. Patients commonly stay in a hospital unit for six months or more because there is no space with proper support for them in community.
Demand from post-secondary students is higher than ever. Nearly half of them have sought mental health services on campus where they are met with long wait times. A full 60% waited four weeks to see someone, while another 25% couldn’t get an appointment at all.
To enhance early intervention and prevention, we need to finalize the regulation of counselling therapists. They’re more affordable than psychologists but without regulation they can’t work to their full scope nor is there proper oversight and consumer protection. It also means their services aren’t recognized by insurance companies. It was recently announced that the College of Psychologists would regulate therapists, but there’s no timeline for when this will be made official.
Despite the challenges, some amazing organizations have stepped up to meet the demand. The Calgary Distress Centre is available 24/7 by calling 2-1-1. The Calgary Counselling Centre provides low-cost, in-person or remote counselling service. There is a new national suicide helpline at 9-8-8. And for youth who are struggling, check out The Summit, a new world-class site in Calgary. Both children – and families of children independent of them – can access the space for help and support.
MLA – Calgary Currie Janet Eremenko proudly serves the following Communities: Bankview, Currie, Glenbrook, Glendale, Killarney-Glengarry, Richmond-Knob Hill, Rosscarrock, Rutland Park, Scarboro, Scarboro/Sunalta West, Shaganappi, Spruce Cliff, Sunalta, Westgate
