QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions
Mental Health Literacy
March 21, 2024
Minister Saks, thank you for being here today.
Effective mental health promotion, mental health care and improvements in population mental health are all supported by good mental health services. In mental-health-literate Canada, it is necessary for us to move ahead on all those directions that we need to improve. Can you please tell us what plans the government has for addressing this pressing issue to move quickly toward the best available evidence-based approach to developing a national strategy for a mental-health-literate Canada?
Thank you, Senator Kutcher, for the question.
I want to share my gratitude for the work that we did together on the handbook for parliamentarians on exactly this issue: introducing the concept of mental health literacy to our chambers. The work begins step by step.
That being said, I would also like to commend this chamber for its work in convening experts to prepare recommendations for our office on mental health literacy and on what considerations we need to have to ensure that the national conversation is driven by an evidence-based perspective, but one that is accessible and provides low-barrier access to so many Canadians who need to understand and have available to them the tools for resiliency at this time.
A key part of the solution will be putting forward the national conversation. I see my office and my file as a key player in ensuring that Canadians know how to access those services.
At this time, the Public Health Agency of Canada has been working with the University of Alberta on its own research of mental health literacy implementation through educational frameworks, such as schools and universities, within their own province. The data is compelling. The evidence-based tools that they have been preparing are very good. We’re looking forward to working with them further.
Thank you very much for that very comprehensive and thorough answer, minister.
As you move forward on this particular file, will there be an opportunity for discussions with ministers of education? You so rightly pointed out the importance of using schools and other institutions for addressing this issue in this country.
Thank you for the question. I believe that the conversation on mental health literacy has to happen in every space, whether it is in our schools, with our families or in our communities.
They also need to be culturally appropriate. They have to understand that the trauma-informed lens will be an important part of this conversation, as so many Canadians as well as our First Nations have different lived experiences that require unique tools and resources to be able to get them to a place of resiliency and understanding what resources are available to them and how to use them.
The work that we are doing right now is a comprehensive survey of how we can best serve Canadians, and we welcome all input. The plan is to meet with education ministers and with other ministers of mental health through the provinces and territories.
