Health Leaders Urge Alberta Government to invest in Mental Illness Prevention
October 22, 2015
With today’s conclusion of the Alberta Mental Health Review public consultation, health leaders are urging the Alberta government to make a meaningful and sustained investment in mental illness prevention. According to a “gap map” review of mental health services conducted in 2014, the Alberta government is only investing one tenth of one percent (0.1%) of its total mental health budget in the primary prevention of mental illness.
“The lack of funding for mental health prevention is disturbing and disheartening” said Dr. Louis Francescutti, public health professor, physician and Wellness Alberta team member. “Childhood trauma is a major contributor to mental illness and we are failing Alberta youth by not investing in effective programs to protect them from adverse experiences that can affect them for life. Many children continue to suffer from abuse and neglect and we need to invest in proven strategies to prevent psychological and emotional trauma that can result in a lifetime of mental illness”.
Wellness Alberta is a coalition of over 100 organizations, institutions and governing bodies that support the creation of a well-financed, effective and sustainable provincial wellness foundation. The proposed foundation would invest in proven strategies to prevent major chronic diseases including mental illness. The coalition is hoping that the Notley government will make chronic disease prevention a top priority especially in light of the Premier’s leadership in calling for a provincial review of mental health programs and services.
“We applaud the Premier’s leadership in making mental health a policy priority. We hope that the Notley government will respond to this important review by making a meaningful investment in chronic disease prevention. A provincial wellness foundation is needed to provide long-term sustainable funding for the prevention of mental illness and other chronic diseases” said Les Hagen, campaign manager of Wellness Alberta.
Wellness Alberta points to positive parenting programs as an example of an effective, evidence-based intervention to prevent mental illness among children and youth.
“Effective trauma prevention initiatives like positive parenting programs have been proven to reduce and mitigate adverse childhood experiences such as physical and emotional abuse or neglect” said Dr. Francescutti. “The Wellness Foundation could support effective provincial programs with a special focus on at-risk populations. We can’t afford not to invest in the prevention of mental illness given its impact on our quality of life, our economy and our healthcare system.”
The coalition is hoping for strong recommendations from the Mental Health Review committee that will address the severe lack of provincial funding for primary prevention.
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“The lack of funding for mental health prevention is disturbing and disheartening” said Dr. Louis Francescutti, public health professor, physician and Wellness Alberta team member. “Childhood trauma is a major contributor to mental illness and we are failing Alberta youth by not investing in effective programs to protect them from adverse experiences that can affect them for life. Many children continue to suffer from abuse and neglect and we need to invest in proven strategies to prevent psychological and emotional trauma that can result in a lifetime of mental illness”.
Wellness Alberta is a coalition of over 100 organizations, institutions and governing bodies that support the creation of a well-financed, effective and sustainable provincial wellness foundation. The proposed foundation would invest in proven strategies to prevent major chronic diseases including mental illness. The coalition is hoping that the Notley government will make chronic disease prevention a top priority especially in light of the Premier’s leadership in calling for a provincial review of mental health programs and services.
“We applaud the Premier’s leadership in making mental health a policy priority. We hope that the Notley government will respond to this important review by making a meaningful investment in chronic disease prevention. A provincial wellness foundation is needed to provide long-term sustainable funding for the prevention of mental illness and other chronic diseases” said Les Hagen, campaign manager of Wellness Alberta.
Wellness Alberta points to positive parenting programs as an example of an effective, evidence-based intervention to prevent mental illness among children and youth.
“Effective trauma prevention initiatives like positive parenting programs have been proven to reduce and mitigate adverse childhood experiences such as physical and emotional abuse or neglect” said Dr. Francescutti. “The Wellness Foundation could support effective provincial programs with a special focus on at-risk populations. We can’t afford not to invest in the prevention of mental illness given its impact on our quality of life, our economy and our healthcare system.”
The coalition is hoping for strong recommendations from the Mental Health Review committee that will address the severe lack of provincial funding for primary prevention.
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