Time for an attitude shift on mental health: Senator Burey – SenCA+ Mag

In my decades as a practising pediatrician, I have seen a heartbreaking and frustrating scenario play out far too often: a frantic parent comes into my office with their child facing a mental health crisis. Perhaps it’s anxiety, or severe depression. The young person may be contemplating suicide. But I saw first-hand the difference in access, wait-times, and available acute and community mental health care, and the sometimes-devastating impact on children and families.

If the child had a broken leg or a cancer diagnosis, they would get care immediately. That is what we rightly demand of our health system. Not so if it is a mental health issue, even if a life is at imminent risk.

We have come a long way in acknowledging the importance of mental health. But the stubborn fact remains: the outcomes that all of us desire — universal and equitable access to mental health and addiction services, evidence-based treatment and support in the community, and better recovery outcomes — are increasingly out of reach.

Read More: https://sencanada.ca/en/sencaplus/opinion/time-for-an-attitude-shift-on-mental-health-senator-burey/