EDMONTON – Sheldon Kennedy says the key to helping people with mental illness is to give caregivers the means to help each other.
The former NHL player and survivor of sexual abuse made the comments after meeting with an Alberta committee reviewing the mental health system.
Kennedy says people who come in contact with the mentally ill, such as Child and Family Services staff, doctors, teachers, and police, need to be allowed to share information to get to the root cause of the distress.
READ MORE: One-third of Canadians at ‘high risk’ for mental health concerns: poll
He says that approach is working at his child-abuse care centre in Calgary.
Kennedy says wait times for therapy has dropped to one month from eight.
READ MORE: How open are Canadians about mental health in the workplace?
Liberal Leader David Swann is on the committee. He says public bodies like schools and hospitals aren’t allowed by law to share information, while other professionals can share information but don’t.
The committee will finalize its recommendations by the end of the year for Health Minister Sarah Hoffman.
Comments