Policy

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Provincial & Territorial

Alberta

Government of Alberta, Mental Health Publications
This site makes available several mental health documents from the government of Alberta such as: the Province’s mental health strategy, action plan, and, the action plan up to 2016 aimed at children and youth. In addition, there are documents pertaining to the mental health act, legislation, orders, treatment forms, and, advocates.

Chronic Social Stress and Emotional Well-Being: An Analysis of Mental Health of Immigrants in Alberta
This 1998 research article by Manu Acharya, published in the Journal of  Canadian Studies in Population, uses a socio-demographic stress model to suggest a significant relationship between chronic stress and the mental health of immigrants aged 20-64 in Alberta, Canada. Age and income were shown to affect chronic stress which, in turn, affected mental health. It is suggested that immigrants from low-income nations are at higher risk for mental illness than those from higher income countries.

Children’s Mental Health Plan for Alberta
Covers the Children’s Mental Health policy for the period 2008-2011

Chronic Social Stress and Emotional Well-Being: An Analysis of Mental Health of Immigrants in Alberta
This is a research article which tries to determine cause-effect between chronic stress and the mental health of immigrants aged 20-64 in Alberta, Canada. Age and income were shown to affect chronic stress which, in turn, affected mental health. It is suggested that immigrants from developing nations are at higher risk for mental illness than those from developed countries.

British Columbia

Reducing Health Inequities Project

This Discussion Paper from the BC’s Provincial Health Services Authority focuses on what the health system in British Columbia can do in relation to health service delivery while emphasizing prevention. The report discusses BC’s initiatives and policy directions that support the health system’s role in decreasing health inequities. It also reviews and examines policies that inadvertently perpetuate these same inequities that contribute to chronic disorders in vulnerable populations. The report concludes with five policy recommendations and 27 specific opportunities for addressing health barriers faced by undeserved populations.

2009-10 Gap Analysis & Improvement Plan: Mental Health Promotion & Mental Disorder Prevention Prevention of Harms Associated with Substances Core Public Health Programs
This 2009-2010 document  presents  the British Columbia Health Authority’s  gap analysis and plan for its core programmes of   Mental Health Promotion and the Prevention of Mental Health Disorders  and, the Prevention of Harms Associated with Substances.

Best Practices in Mental Health and Addictions
These seven reports from 2002 are the issue of British Columbia’s Mental Health and Addictions Reform initiative. in addition to English, the reports are available in Chines and Punjabi. Other resources are also appended to the document.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Healthier Together: A strategic health plan for Newfoundland and Labrador
This reports sets out Newfoundland and Labrador’s major long-term goals for the health and community services system and identifies the objectives, actions, and targets which will be pursued over the next five years.

Nunavut

Suicide Prevention Strategy

Resilience Within: An Action Plan for Suicide Prevention in Nunavut
Background Information about the Suicide Prevention Strategy: In 2004, through a partnership of the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police V-Division and many caring stakeholders, the Embrace Life Council was established to coordinate initiatives in suicide prevention.

In 2008, the Government of Nunavut (GN), Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police V-Division (RCMP) and the Embrace Life Council (IIKELC) formed a partnership to create a strategy to prevent suicide. A review of evidence-based research sought to identify suicide reduction methods from other jurisdictions. The partners sought input from Nunavummiut through a discussion paper, community consultation and targeted discussions with key stakeholders involved in suicide prevention. In October 2010, the Partners released the Nunavut Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS).

In September 2011, an Action Plan outlining steps, to March 2014, to reach the vision of the NSPS was released. The Partners addressed knowledge and service gaps in mental health and suicide prevention as the eight commitments were addressed. In March 2014, this Action Plan was extended to allow for an evaluation.

Nunavut’s Chief Coroner called an inquest into suicide, in January 2014, after the high level of suicide in 2013. The inquest, held in September 2015, heard testimony from family members, clinicians, researchers and partners of the NSPS. The jury produced eighty-nine recommendations in their verdict.

At the conclusion of the inquest, the Partners committed to reviewing the jury recommendations and continuing their partnership in suicide prevention. Nunavut Premier Peter Taptuna declared a crisis on October 25, 2015.

On January 8, 2016, Partners of the NSPS re-adopted the strategy’s vision, goals and approaches to suicide prevention and agreed to jointly developing Action Plans, consistent with the jury’s verdict.

Ontario

Alcohol Policy Framework
This document from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Ontario, aims to provide a framework for alcohol policies that address the health and social harms that often accompany alcohol use, as well as inform provincial and local initiatives in this domain.

Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Services: Key Ontario Policy Documents, 1978 – 2006 Selected Bibliography
This collection of documents from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Ontario, covers several areas such as: best practices, strategies, actions plans, reports, and implementations. Policy makers should find this to be of particular interest.

Mental Health Promotion in Ontario: A Call to Action
This document, which is supported by five well-known Canadian health and mental health agencies, exhorts the government of Ontario to institute strategies and policies which would promote sound mental health. Three main areas associated with mental health (social inclusion, discrimination and violence, and access to economic resources) are highlighted and discussed. In addition to recommendations and options for the Government, several references and resources pertinent to the three main areas are provided.

Human rights and mental health
From the website: The Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) provides for equal rights and opportunities, and freedom from discrimination. The Code recognizes the dignity and worth of every person in Ontario and applies to the areas of employment, housing, goods, facilities and services, contracts, and membership in unions, trade or professional associations.

Quebec

Racial Profiling and Systemic Discrimination of Racialized Youth
This report is based on the results of a public consultation process carried out in 2009 by the Quebec Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse which looked into the issue of racial profiling and the systemic discrimination of racialized youth, aged 14-25, in Quebec. There were 54 written submissions and 75 individual presentations. Individuals covering all social strata participated in the process.

There are 93 recommendations covering four areas: General, Public Security; Education; and, Youth Protection.  Eleven areas in which the Commission will improve its functioning are also identified.

This document is also available in French.

Saskatchewan

Towards Culture-Conscious Mental Health Services in Saskatchewan
This report provides a review of Saskatchewan’s health and mental health related legal, policy, and strategy documents. Given the rapid pace of migration-induced demographic changes in Saskatchewan, this review assesses whether strategies, regulations, and policies address the burgeoning needs of a culturally diverse population. The findings suggest an absence of cultural awareness in these documents and identifies an acute need for culturally competent services and expertise across the province. It suggests there is a need for reformulation of health policies and regulations in a culture-conscious fashion.