Province launches new addiction and mental health strategy

EDMONTON – The Alberta government rolled out its much-anticipated five-year mental health and addictions strategy Monday, promising to improve access to treatment by closing gaps in the system.

“We recognize that more has to be done,” the strategy reads. “This involves improved public understanding and removal of stereotypes and inaccurate perceptions about the causes of these conditions and the possibilities for prevention and treatment.”

One in five people experience a mental health problem in their lifetimes, and up to 10 per cent of the population over age 15 may be dependent on alcohol and drugs, the report notes. Alberta’s commitment to mental health has come under scrutiny in recent years after the high-profile suicide in 2010 of a young man who went to the Royal Alexandra Hospital emergency room for counselling, but killed himself after waiting for 12 hours. Several patients have also walked away from Alberta Hospital, sparking a review of security.

The new mental health strategy promises all Albertans, no matter where they live, will have access to appropriate mental health and addiction services through face-to-face treatment or help through web-based programs or telehealth initiatives to link those living in remote areas. It also says more training of workers is needed to ensure all staff have the proper skills. A specialized sub-group will also address the unique needs of First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations.

The strategy will better co-ordinate programs among 16 departments, including education, health, housing, seniors and aboriginal affairs. Currently, some of that care is fragmented, the report notes. New policies and government legislation is expected to support the strategy.

Much of the work will be done by family doctors and community-based services and will involve help from doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, school staff and peer support groups. Early childhood and maternal programs will be boosted. Programs for children with disabilities and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are also expected to be strengthened, and partnerships with private businesses will be made to build mental health promotion and better employee assistance programs.

Children with mental-health issues should be able to access emergency care within 24 hours, urgent care within two weeks and scheduled visits within 30 days, the plan notes. The same time frames will eventually be expanded to apply to all ages and populations.

Adequate levels of funding will follow, the report promises. It says a cross-ministry committee will continue to provide oversight into the rollout of the strategy.

“Only with the help of Albertans can we make certain that we move in the right direction, preventing addiction, mental-health problems and mental illness whenever possible and providing the highest quality services whenever needed,” the document reads.

While performance measures have yet to be determined, improvement to the system may be measured by the number of outreach workers for the mentally ill and addicted, the number of clients seen in the community, and the number of in-patient hospital beds compared to those in other settings. The province also expects more primary care networks – networks of doctors who work with nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and other health professionals to share the workload – to offer mental health and addiction services.

Background information on Alberta’s Addiction and Mental Health Strategy.