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What's New

May 10: Nominations are now open for the Faces of Mental Ilness Campaign. more details... (PDF)

Apr 25: Bell announces Clara’s Big Ride for Bell Let’s Talk, a national bicycle tour by Clara Hughes in support of mental health that begins in March 2014 and spans more than 100 days, 12,000 kilometres and every province and territory of Canada. The ride culminates on Canada Day, July 1 2014, in Ottawa.  Website | News Release (EN) (FR)

Apr 8: CAMIMH announces the winners of the Champions of Mental Health Award.s for 2013 Join the celebrations at the 2013 Champion's Gala on May 6. Tickets from CAMIMH. Newsrelease. Email. Gala Details: May 6, 2013 Chateau Laurier, Ottawa. Reception: 5:30pm; Dinner & Awards 7pm More details. | Photos of Event

Mar 15: Emily Maguire seeking sponsorships to help her release her new album "Bird in a Cage". Emily provided the antham song for the Defeat Depression Campaign. More details about her new album
 

Feb 15: The first edition of CSA Z1003/BNQ 9700-803, Psychological health and safety in the workplace - Prevention, promotion, and guidance to staged implementation is now available. More details.


Jan 21: "52 Ways to Beat Depression Naturally" was released on "Blue Monday". Written by Toronto Psychotherapist Nicole McCance. Link to publisher | Link to Nicole's site
Jan 8: Mark your calendar for the Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference to be held in Montreal on June 27  and 28, 2013. More details at shared-care.ca

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May 7: “Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act” Will Set Back Mental Health without Increasing Public Safety more

May 6: 2013 Champion's Gala more

Apr 26: The Countdown is On! Just 1 month until Defeat Depression Weekend in Canada. Register for an event in your community | Plan your own activitiy wherever you are!

Apr 22: MDSC had an interview on the "Family Caregivers Unite" show with Dr. Gordon Atherley. The topic was "Family Caregivers Help us Defeat Depression". Listen now!  Also December episode called "Mood Disorders, Stigmatization and Family Caregiving"
Mar22. MDSC is partnering with Conference Board of Canada on the upcoming Workplace Wellness and Mental Health 2013 Conference. Tues Jn 18 - Wed Jn 19 2013. The Old Mill Inn, Toronto, ON. Conference Website 
Mar 15. MDSC is in the current issue of the CHANNAL newsletter. PDF  | Website

Nov 18. Has your doctor taken this program yet? Download this promo card with details of the Physicians Anti-Stigma Continuing Medical Education (CME) program, and give it to your doctor. (PDF)

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Mental Health Care System Survey

 

 

Pan-Canadian Survey Raises Warning About Mental Health Services.

In September, Mood Disorders Society of Canada surveyed Canadians on their views about mental health services and supports in Canada. 

The survey was circulated to approximately 10,000 people within the MDSC network and was subsequently circulated to their respective networks. The survey received a remarkable 3,125 responses. Over 500 individuals provided additional written comments to questions in the survey.

The results of the survey tell us that while there has been some improvement in the various federal and provincial mental health care systems, there are many areas where improvements are desperately needed. What was made abundantly clear by the respondents is that significant gaps and shortages continue to be ignored by mental health policy makers throughout Canada.

Of particular concern to MDSC;

  • 35% of the respondents indicate having to wait more than 12 months for a diagnosis. Comments cited the shortage of professionals available to diagnose and treat individuals with mental health issues.
  • 52% of respondents reported visiting a hospital emergency room because of their mental illness and 50% of those respondents indicated that they were "moderately" to "extremely dissatisfied" with the care they received at the emergency room of which 24% indicated they were "extremely dissatisfied".
  • 59% of respondents reported that uninsured services prevented them from seeking the type of support they needed such as health care services from a therapist, psychologist, alternative health care provider, or other.
  • 82% of respondents indicated they were able to access the medications they needed to treat their mental illness. However, some of the respondents indicated that this meant going into debt, rationing drugs, and staying in stressful situations to take advantage of benefits programs.
  • 65% of respondents indicated that their local hospital did not provide adequate care for patients with mental illness. The number one reason cited was that the hospital "does not seem to prioritize mental illness". Clinics and hospital emergency rooms are not well equipped to deal with individuals presenting with a serious mental illness. In hospitals, individuals reported they were left to wait unacceptably long periods of time, often in a state of psychosis with potential suicidal tendencies.
  • On a positive note, 91% of respondents with a mental illness had a family doctor, 52% saw their family doctor for their mental illness and 46% were "very" to "extremely satisfied" with their family doctor for treating their mental illness.

Download the News Release and Key Findings Report for more details.

 

Mood Disorders Society of Canada thanks all who participated in the Mental Health Care System Survey!

News Release
Nov 15, 2011

Key Findings Report
 (Nov 2011, PDF)

 

 

 

Read Dec 2012 E-News