Many of this blog’s readers are American (and international!) but here’s news from your neighbours: today a major mental health care report was released by the Canadian government.
Among the recommendations:
A Senate committee is recommending raising taxes on beer, wine and alcohol to pay for $536 million a year in mental health initiatives.
The Senate social affairs committee also proposes the creation of a permanent Canadian Mental Health Commission in its final report, entitled “Out of the Shadows at Last.”
Its mandate would be to educate Canadians about mental health. The commission would also create a national Knowledge Exchange Centre and would oversee a 10-year national anti-stigma campaign.
Another notable recommendation in the report was the development of 57,000 affordable housing units for people living with mental illness.
The cost would be funded by raising the excise tax by five cents a drink. That translates to five cents a beer, 25 cents on a bottle of wine and 85 cents on a bottle of alcohol.
Meanwhile, in Michigan two bills were introduced today proposing to close 18 of 39 mental health care facilities.
It remains to be seen whether either government will make these changes.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 10 May 2006
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.
Kiume, S. (2006). Mental Health Care Reform. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 14, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2006/05/10/mental-health-in-canada/
