A year into pandemic, feds have improved messaging on its toll on mental well-being, say experts
By Palak Mangat March 3, 2021
While expressing ‘empathy’ for the pandemic’s impact is helpful, it is still ‘half the job,’ says Margaret Eaton of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Terminology and messaging used to describe the toll COVID-19 has had on Canadians' mental well-being, by politicians and officials like Health Minister Patty Hajdu and chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam, pictured in December 2020, has changed over time, says one Senator. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
The federal government has done a better job of acknowledging the various emotional states COVID-19 has plunged Canadians into, says one expert, while another notes that the level of empathy politicians display only goes so far without long-term financial support for mental health services.
Related Stories
-
Sponsored Content
Canadians Are Ready to Embrace “Virtual First” in Health Care
Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.
Time for widespread gender-neutral language in federal policy, legislation, say advocates
Justice Canada has more recently been using ‘they’ as a singular gender-neutral pronoun on a piecemeal basis, but the gendered nature of the French language requires study, with a review currently underway. Canada’s ‘fair share’: report calls for doubling emissions target as Trudeau preps for U.S. climate summit
The Trudeau government unveiled a new target to cut emission up to 45 per cent below 2005 levels, by 2030, in an effort to help prevent temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius. Canada continues to delay decision on COVID vaccines IP waiver
Global Affairs has yet to finalize its position on the waiver six months after it was first introduced by South Africa and India. ‘It’s good for the political soul’: historic ‘Kitchen Accord’ room to be turned into Senate prayer, meditation space
The fourth-floor room’s old kitchenette was demolished during renovations to the Senate of Canada Building and has sat empty since Senators moved in at the beginning of 2019. Guilty verdict in trial of Derek Chauvin marks ‘painful progress’ in fight to address systemic racism, say Hillites, experts
While seeing some former colleagues testify against Derek Chauvin’s restraint of George Floyd left one Senator ‘hopeful,’ she says police forces need to be more active in calling out racist policies.New contract keeps distance interpreting definition deemed problematic by association
Public Services and Procurement Canada hasn’t gone ‘far enough’ in protecting interpreters with measures set down in the new contract for freelancers, says the AIIC’s Nicole Gagnon.
‘Breathtaking’ childcare pledge to pay dividends beyond recouping pandemic losses: labour experts
The Liberals have offered a feminist budget, say observers, with measures that help women struggling amid COVID-19 in the short term, like rent and wage subsidy extensions.Feds give $35-million boost to National Capital Commission
In its first budget in more than two years, Ottawa is also allocating $11-million to help tackle anti-Asian racism in the wake of a pandemic year that has seen a ‘disturbing trend’ of reported incidents.‘It’s getting worse, we’re going backwards’: Ontario MPs say constituents confused, frustrated, angry with vaccine supply issues, and partisan ‘finger-pointing’ as COVID cases skyrocket
Vaccine clinics have been cancelled due to supply shortages, already overburdened intensive care units are beyond capacity, and new cases of COVID-19 have hit all-time highs in Ontario. Trending Stories
