Mr. Speaker, this week is Mental Health Week in Canada. One in five Canadians will be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime, yet there are many who will never speak to a doctor.
Canada's youth suicide rate is the third highest in the industrialized world, and while nearly 20% of Canadian youth suffer from a mental disorder, only one in five will receive treatment.
A prevention strategy and appropriate care are key to mental health care. We need to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness because it keeps those afflicted from seeking help before they do something that cannot be undone. We will not diminish the stigma by treating them as criminals.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada released a landmark mental health strategy a year ago, yet the Conservative government has taken no action. The government has taken credit for the MHCC's strategy for mental health in the workplace, but it has failed to implement these recommendations in its own public service.
Talking about mental illness helps de-stigmatize the issue, but talk must be backed up with action to truly help those in need.