Little difference between Liberal, Conservative policies on defence
OTTAWA—We are now past the midway point of this year’s 40-day federal election campaign. If the polls are to be trusted, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are locked in a dead heat with Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives. The public furor over Trudeau’s blackface/brownface shenanigans has seemly blown over without seriously tipping the voter balance in favour of the […]
Investing in mental health is a sound strategy
With a federal election well underway, there’s lots of talk about hot-button issues. People will be voting for the middle class, for action on climate change, for improved childcare, for better infrastructure, for jobs, jobs, jobs. In truth, a hidden thread runs through all these priorities. It’s a topic at the top of the agenda […]
Public safety personnel stand up for Canadians; we need to stand up for their mental health
Oct. 6-13 is Mental Health Awareness week in Canada. While it is natural to consider our own mental health, we may fall short of thinking about the mental health of other groups like our public safety personnel (PSP). Public safety personnel ensure the security and safety of all Canadians. Examples of public safety personnel include […]
Access to psychotherapy in Canada: why are we so behind others?
MONTREAL—Every year in Canada, one in five individuals presents with a mental health disorder which inevitably leads to high levels of distress for the person as well as for their family. Mental health disorders are also associated with tremendous economic and societal costs due to a decrease in productivity, increase in disability, significant utilization of […]
Stress: does what doesn’t kill you make you strong?
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger; so goes a popular song. When it comes to stress what makes you stronger will also kill you. Stress is necessary to keep life itself in play, but in excess it leads to morbidity and mortality. So, what is it? We often feel restless, anxious, tense. In other […]
Only one national strategy can address today’s mental health crisis: putting the patient first
OTTAWA—Mental health has been elevated to a national issue, but the reality on the ground for someone in need of immediate support is a daunting wait for life-saving therapy if you can even find somewhere to go. I have seen first-hand the devastating effects of this. A young family friend seeking help for a debilitating […]
Mental health policy could be political winner in this election, but it’s not being talked about
A new Ipsos/Global News poll, released Oct. 3, shows health care is the top election issue for Canadians, with 37 per cent of respondents listing it in their top three. Health care is followed by climate change, at 30 per cent, and affordability and the cost of living, at 26 per cent. When asked which […]
If we want immigrants, refugees, and racialized groups to thrive, we need our policies on social determinants of health and mental health services to evolve
Immigration is the main driver of population growth in Canada. Our prosperity is linked to attracting smart immigrants who will help our economy grow. But we may not be looking after this investment as well as we could. Studies have shown that when immigrants come to this country, they are two times less likely to […]
Canada’s mental health agenda should address mental health in the workplace
On any given day, 500,000 Canadians are unable to work, due to mental health-related challenges. In our Healthy Brains at Work research, the numbers provide an even more precise look at mental health in the workplace. If all employed Canadians living with depression received the appropriate care, 1.2 million people could work full time and […]
NDP says position unchanged on renegotiation for new NAFTA, despite saying improvements ‘can and should be made to this deal’
The NDP will wait to see what changes are made by U.S. House Democrats to the new NAFTA before deciding whether they will vote to implement it in the next Parliament, says its most recent international trade critic. “We will have a full debate in the next Parliament and a vote based on whatever the […]
