More detox beds promised as NDP accepts mental health report
原始发布日期： 2016-02-22 发布者：李方字变大 字变小
'We can and must do better,' says committee co-chair David SwannMental health recommendations lead to action 1:34 Health Minister Sarah Hoffman made the pledge as the review's findings were revealed this morning in Calgary. The Valuing Mental Health report contains 32 recommendations aimed at supporting mental health by strengthening services for Albertans with mental illness and addictions. Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said the province plans to act on all of the recommendations, however six of them have been singled out for priority action, at an estimated cost of $4.5 million. "It's going to take time," Hoffman said. "Thirty two recommendations are not a small feat." The six priority actions:
Hoffman said implementation of the remaining 26 recommendations will have to happen over time given the province's tight fiscal situation. "Some of these have very significant monetary requirements attached to them," she said. "Obviously I wish oil was at $100 a barrel and not hovering around $30." 'We can and must do better'The review was led by Liberal Leader Dr. David Swann and submitted to Health Minister Sarah Hoffman just before Christmas."The current mental health system is not meeting the needs of an increasing number of Albertans. We can and must do better. Unfortunately, this is not the first time Albertans have heard this," he said in a release. "Successful implementation of the Mental Health Review will require a higher level of leadership from Alberta Health, and the new AHS board, than that provided by previous governments. Today's six priority recommendations are an excellent start." Sheldon Kennedy, whose child advocacy centre works with victims of child abuse, praised the report for singling out what he views as the biggest problem with Alberta's system of mental health care service — a lack of coordination among partner agencies. "If we look at the available systems out there, I think there's plenty," he said. "But the reality is they don't work together and they don't talk to each other, and we're not efficient and we're not effective." Suicide rates on the riseLate last year, CBC News reported that suicide rates in Alberta had gone up dramatically in the wake of mounting job losses across the province.There were 252 suicides in Alberta from January to June 2014.During the same period in 2015 there were 327 — a 30 per cent increase. Swann's committee heard from about 400 stakeholders, received more than 100 written submissions and presentations and reviewed about 2,900 online questionnaires. The review focused on increasing access to addiction and mental health services, addressing geographic challenges, and "ensuring services are inclusive of, and culturally appropriate for, Alberta's diverse population," the province says on its website. Alberta's mounting fentanyl crisis was also included in the review. Read the full report here. |