Evidence of meeting #13 for Status of Women in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was patients.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Research Chair in Psychotherapy Research, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, Canadian Psychological Association
I'm talking provincial. Technically—
Conservative
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
So what province...? Maybe you can just clarify for us where you were speaking of.
Research Chair in Psychotherapy Research, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, Canadian Psychological Association
Well, it's well known that Ontario has not increased funding for hospitals over the past several years and probably won't for another couple of years. That sounds like it's not a budget cut, but it is, because health care costs go up by 3% to 6% a year. That means there are going to be cuts of 3% to 6%.
Conservative
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Thanks. I just wanted to clarify where you were speaking of. You were speaking of Ontario.
Research Chair in Psychotherapy Research, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Hospital, Canadian Psychological Association
Yes.
Conservative
Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB
Maybe I could ask the question that I was going to ask of Ms. Phoenix earlier. It was a bit about talking about how some patients will appear to be a healthy weight when they're not. We've had a bit of discussion here, but it seems to me that diagnosis is probably going to be one of the big things. Could you talk a bit more about what your experience is in how you can diagnose eating disorders? Also, we've heard from other witnesses that dentists often diagnose them. Can you comment?
Nurse Practitioner, Canadian Federation of Mental Health Nurses
I'd be happy to.
I don't think anyone at the table is leaving it up to family physicians to complete the diagnosis. What would be really effective is to have a very consistent method and approach across the country for screening and identifying individuals who are at risk.
In mental health, we diagnose by listening to people's thoughts and feelings and how much that's impairing their day-to-day life when it comes to occupation, schooling, family relationships, and responsibilities. When individuals look at individuals as a possible eating disorder, they are very much distracted by appearance. That really needs to be suspended. We need listen to individuals, to hear what their symptoms are, and to hear the agony of their emotions and thoughts.
Dr. Spettigue has spoken very eloquently today about how obsessive they are and how their urges are so strong and uncomfortable. That's the nature of how we make an accurate diagnosis in mental health, but also in eating disorders. Yes, their weight and other parameters play a role, but that shouldn't be the thing that is the distractor.
NDP
The Chair NDP Hélène LeBlanc
Thank you very much, Ms. Crockatt.
I want to thank the witnesses for coming to meet with us.
Ms. Phoenix, I also want to thank you for testifying by videoconference. You have provided us with much insight on eating disorders.
We will end the meeting so that the subcommittee can sit. Thank you very much.
The meeting is adjourned.