Final Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Mental Health and Addictions

For the Attention ofHospital CEOs, Board Chairs, OHA Board of Directors
and CACN Members

From Hilary Short, President and CEO

Final Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Mental Health and Addictions

Earlier today, Senator Michael Kirby and the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology released its final report entitled, “Out of the Shadows at Last”. A copy of this report is available here.

The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) welcomes this report, and applauds Senator Kirby and the Standing Senate Committee for their in-depth review of mental health and mental illness in Canada, and their commitment to enhancing mental health and addiction treatment and care.

The recommendations made in the report are important steps forward in helping to profile the major issues impacting the provision of mental health services in Canada.

Other recommendations contained in the report include:

• The establishment of a Canadian Mental Health Commission to provide a much needed national focal point to help keep mental health issues in the mainstream of public policy debates in Canada until effective solutions are developed and implemented.

• Funding for a Basket of Community Services that would assist provinces in providing people living with mental illness with a range of services and supports in the community. These services may include Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams and Crisis Intervention Units.

• Strategies to more effectively address mental health promotion and illness prevention.

The OHA will be consulting with hospitals through its Mental Health and Addiction Provincial Leadership Council over the coming weeks, and exploring the report and recommendations in further detail.

For any questions, please contact Michelle Caplan, OHA Policy Analyst at 416-205-1391.