Petition to the House of Commons of Canada

Whereas:

Everyone in Canada deserves access to mental health services free from stigma and systemic discrimination. But unfortunately, stigma and discrimination persist, especially within the health care system perpetuated by doctors and nurses.

Integration of mental health services and anti-stigma education within the public health care system would reduce stigma and discrimination and ensure everyone has access to mental health care.

“Reducing stigma will promote client recovery” and improve our health care system (Arboleda-Flórez & Stuart, 2012). Mental illness and physical illness often occur together. “By treating the physical needs of someone with a mental disorder or alternately treating the mental needs of someone with a physical health problem, care becomes wholistic and greatly increases the likelihood of good health outcomes” (Funk et al., 2008).

The Mental Health Commission of Canada states that mental illness currently costs the economy at least $50 billion and is expected within the next 30 years to grow to over $306 billion. Possibly sooner as a result of the pandemic. These changes will save money and create better health outcomes.

If you believe everyone in Canada deserves access to mental health services free from stigma and systemic discrimination, sign this petition today and share it with all Canadians.

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:

1. Include mental health service integration into the public health system under the Canada Health Act.

2. Work with provinces to develop anti-stigma national standards for person-centred care in the public health system that includes doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurses.

3. Require yearly anti-stigma education for all mental health and health practitioners as part of the Canada Health Act.

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References

Arboleda-Flórez, J., & Stuart, H. (2012). From sin to science: Fighting the stigmatization of mental illnesses. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 57(8), 457–463. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674371205700803

Funk, M., Saraceno, B., Drew, N., & Faydi, E. (2008, March). Integrating Mental Health into primary healthcare. Mental health in family medicine. Retrieved April 17, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC27775...