Six Months the Harper Government Imprisons My Mind

Well, Mr. Harper, people with mental health disabilities are waiting...

Ottawa

March 20, 2007

Dear Mr. [name redacted to protect my privacy],

Thank you for writing me with your concerns over the lack of action that the Conservative government has taken since the release of the Kirby Report.

Since the release of the Kirby Report on Mental Health, Out of the Shadows at Last, I have been calling on the Conservatives to implement its recommendations. The report's recommendations would establish a comprehensive mental health strategy for Canada, a step vital to the healing of the many Canadians afflicted with mental illness. The report also called on the Conservative government to establish a Canadian Mental Health Commission by September 1, 2006, something they have still not done.

The Minister of Health's silence on the Kirby Report is unacceptable. This report exposes the plight of those Canadians living with mental illness and their families. For too long the mentally ill have been ignored and shunned. The NDP believes that it is time for a comprehensive strategy to deal with mental illness in Canada. The Conservative government has abandoned the everyday Canadians whose lives would benefit from the implementation of the Kirby Report's recommendations.

I am working with my NDP colleagues to deny the Conservative government the ability to continue to sit on this report and do nothing.


Sincerely,

Penny Priddy, MP
Surrey North
NDP Health Critic
PP/ns
CEP 232

-----Original Message-----
From: [name redacted to protect my privacy] at [yahoo dot com]
Sent: January 25, 2007 4:46 PM
To: Priddy, Penny - M.P.
Subject: Canadian Mental Health Commission

Dear Ms Priddy,

I am writing as one of your constituents to express my concerns as someone affected by mental illness, and to ask for your help.

Personally I suffer from borderline personality disorder due to post-concussive syndrome. From what I recall, I suffered a concussion at age 2, age 4, age 5, age 6, age 42, and age 46. In addition, before age 1 I suffered anoxia as an infant. As well, I have dysthymia with hypomania. Instead of pharmaceutical medication I have decided to use herbal remedies such as damiana and valerian. Sometimes for insomnia, I use gravol to sleep at night.

On May 9, 2006 the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology released its final report on mental illness and mental health entitled Out of the Shadows at Last. The document provides a blueprint to build an innovative and leading edge mental health system that will enhance services and outcomes for all Canadians living with psychiatric illness.

The report, prepared by Senator Michael Kirby and his colleagues, contains recommendations related to services, service delivery, research, accessibility, support and other aspects of treatment and care for people living with mental illnesses. Many organizations in Canada support the intent of the report and have been encouraging the federal government to move forward on implementation.

I am writing to you as my elected representative because I want Ottawa to move quickly on a key recommendation previously tabled by the Committee: the establishment of a Canadian Mental Health Commission. Such a body would mobilize federal, provincial, and territorial governments, as well as non-governmental organizations, to gather information on the state of mental illness and address service needs in a coordinated and comprehensive fashion. This would provide an accurate picture of the mental health system in Canada and ensure that services are equitable and accessible across the country.

Unfortunately, no action has been taken to date, despite the call in the report for the Commission to be up and running by September 1, 2006.

During the last federal election campaign, the Conservative Party of Canada expressed its support for a national commission on mental health in a letter to the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, stating, the Conservative Party of Canada and Member of Parliament (and then Health Critic) Steven Fletcher "have long called for a Mental Health Commission of Canada and a Conservative government will ensure that such a commission is established."

Now is the time to put these words into action. That is why I am asking you to write to the Minister of Health to request that he immediately establish and fund the Canadian Mental Health Commission.

Your willingness to take action now will demonstrate your support for a Canadian Mental Health Commission and the vital first step towards a national strategy on mental illness. The sooner it is operational, the sooner we will begin to see improvements for individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Thank you for your commitment. I look forward to receiving a response from you.

Sincerely,
[name redacted to protect my privacy]
[address excised for privacy]