Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Equity between mental and physical health care is fundamental to ensuring productivity and economic competitiveness in Canada. The Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Mental Health Association have been very vocal on the urgent need to act.
The 2015 Provincial Mental Health Forum, held in New Brunswick and attended by more than 350 community participants, established the importance of holding a societal debate on all mental health issues, such as the need to overcome stigma and legal barriers and promote equity in access to services.
Such a transformation of services requires the participation of families, loved ones and the community. It is important to intervene early while respecting the safety and jurisdiction over culture of first nations, immigrants, refugees and linguistic minorities. Transforming mental health services is based on the values of respect, transparency, collaboration, evidence, best practices and research.
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the economic losses from mental illness and substance abuse are estimated at $51 billion. For Canadians suffering from depression, the loss of productivity is estimated at $8 billion.
Mental health issues are the primary reason for disability claims. Seventy-five per cent of short-term claims result in significant costs. Only 50% of employees will return to work after a six-month disability period. The costs associated with mental health issues represent 4% to 12% of the payroll. Fifty-seven per cent of Canadian employers have made it their top priority.
According to a survey conducted by the Canadian Mental Health Association, whose report has just been published, access to mental health care, unavailability of appropriate services and stigmatization are the main barriers to good mental health.
The mental health needs of 1.6 million Canadians are not being met. The opioid crisis is the result of physical, spiritual and psychological suffering and pain related to, among other things, social inequality, colonialism, intergenerational trauma, stigmatization and inaccessibility to appropriate and effective services, as well as a lack of consistent treatment services.
In Canada, 7.2% of the health care budget is for mental health, compared to 13% in England, while the economic burden of mental health, as estimated by the OECD, is to the tune of 23%. Historically, community mental health services have been underfunded. The Government of Canada has demonstrated unprecedented leadership by recognizing significant gaps in mental health and has committed an additional $5 billion over 10 years.
Mental health issues are preventable and manageable with personalized, equitable and effective access to appropriate services and support. Eighty per cent of people depend on their family doctor for services that are usually limited to drugs and referrals.
Psychological therapy services are inaccessible in the public system, as the majority of people do not have access to private insurance plans to cover part of the costs.
We recommend the following strategies: providing evidence-based therapies from public funds; improving the quality of care; investing in promotion, prevention, early intervention, and the resolution of stigma and discrimination issues; ensuring equitable access; and increasing funding for mental health research and impact assessment. For each dollar spent, the health care system saves two dollars.
We propose to hold an Atlantic forum bringing together all community participants and decision-makers in the formal system, as a follow-up to the provincial forum held in 2015. The purpose of such a forum is to engage people with mental health challenges in their institutions, to engage their natural support networks such as family and friends, and to engage employers, professionals, researchers and policy-makers.
This is also an opportunity to demystify mental health, mental illnesses and addictions, to share evidence and best practices, but more importantly, to overcome stigma. Working with partners is essential to implementing innovative strategies, deploying appropriate and effective services, intervening early and building a healthy and dynamic economy.
The following issues cost society dearly: the rate of homelessness related to mental illness; the dependency rate related to mental health issues; the rates of chronicity and economic dependency of people who do not have access to appropriate and effective services; and the inaccessibility of care and services for those living with mental illness, as well as for their families and loved ones. The status quo has an impact on the economic health and productivity of communities.
A forum bringing together all stakeholders from the formal systems of public services, training and education institutions, community organizations, immigrant communities, first nations and the linguistic minority, in a spirit of collaboration and evidence-based information sharing, paves the way for demystifying mental illness, promotes best practices and ensures continuity of care.
A forum is a societal intervention that informs, raises awareness, and mobilizes people. It overcomes stigma and engages our communities in a partnership with formal systems and policy-makers.
The Canadian Mental Health Association recommends that legislation be passed on parity between mental and physical health, which would clarify that access to mental health services is not a privilege, but a right.
The purpose of the coalition will be to represent the interests of communities, individuals and formal services in the transformation of mental health services.
Thank you.