For the past few months the Globe and Mail has participated in documenting the unaddressed cost of mental illness to Canadian individuals, families and society. Throughout the investigation they discovered that Canada is the only Group of Eight country with no mental-health strategy. This not only leads to the silent suffering of millions of Canadians, but has lead to social stigmas affecting family issues, homelessness, orphans, crime, etc.
According to Andre Picard of the Globe and Mail, Canada currently deals with mental-health through a patchwork of medical organizations that allow many Canadians to slip though the cracks and go untreated. The Problem? Funding, research, volunteer base...the list goes on! The solution? Seemingly...a new charity!
The Mental Health Partnerships of Canada is the new ambitious endeavour of Michael Kirby, the head of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The new charity is hoped to rival such established organizations as the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I'll repeat "ambitious" because nearly $400 Million is invested in Cancer research each year. The federal government is on board to help financially and the organization will work closely with many other organizations that deal with mental-health issues.
Mr. Kirby conceded that the project will take time to grow, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. I think the social stigmas attached to mental illness have made it difficult for many people to accomplish their goals - including many youth and homeless persons. This new charity coupled with federal and provincial support will undoubtedly go a long way in removing some of the barriers that an estimated 1 in 5 Canadians will experience in their lifetime.
Lastly, the new charity will encourage and create new opportunities for volunteers in areas like fundraising, event planning, and media relations. I am excited to watch the development of this program and interested in the opportunities that it presents to me and all Canadians.
According to Andre Picard of the Globe and Mail, Canada currently deals with mental-health through a patchwork of medical organizations that allow many Canadians to slip though the cracks and go untreated. The Problem? Funding, research, volunteer base...the list goes on! The solution? Seemingly...a new charity!
The Mental Health Partnerships of Canada is the new ambitious endeavour of Michael Kirby, the head of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The new charity is hoped to rival such established organizations as the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I'll repeat "ambitious" because nearly $400 Million is invested in Cancer research each year. The federal government is on board to help financially and the organization will work closely with many other organizations that deal with mental-health issues.
Mr. Kirby conceded that the project will take time to grow, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. I think the social stigmas attached to mental illness have made it difficult for many people to accomplish their goals - including many youth and homeless persons. This new charity coupled with federal and provincial support will undoubtedly go a long way in removing some of the barriers that an estimated 1 in 5 Canadians will experience in their lifetime.
Lastly, the new charity will encourage and create new opportunities for volunteers in areas like fundraising, event planning, and media relations. I am excited to watch the development of this program and interested in the opportunities that it presents to me and all Canadians.
No comments:
Post a Comment