Mental and Behavioural

Mental and behavioural health issues can address many areas, from enhancing our emotional well-being to treating and preventing severe mental illness and disorder. Depression, stress, Alzheimer's Disease, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia are all examples of mental and behavioural health conditions. In 1998, Health Canada estimated that these types conditions were the third-highest source of direct health care costs.

Message from Tony Clement, Minister of Health - Mental Illness Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day: October 1-7, 2006 and October 10, 2006

What Can You Do?

More research is required to understand the causes, treatment, and prevention of many mental and behavioural conditions. We do know that a respect for personal dignity and a sense of control over one's life are important in maintaining and improving mental health. For some people, exercise and good nutritional habits can help alleviate conditions associated with stress and anxiety. For other people, therapy and medication is necessary. Health Canada encourages you to keep your physician informed of any changes in your health.

What's Being Done?

In Canada, the planning and delivery of mental health services is an area in which the provincial and territorial governments have primary jurisdiction. The federal government (primarily through the Public Health Agency of Canada) collaborates with the provinces and territories in a variety of ways to develop responsive, coordinated and efficient mental health service systems.

The Mental Health Promotion Unit (MHPU) is the focal point of the Public Health Agency of Canada's efforts to maintain and improve positive mental health and well-being for the Canadian population. The MHPU supports research to increase our knowledge of mental health issues and develops policies, programs and activities designed to promote mental health and address the needs of people with mental health problems or disorders.

Resources

• Exploring the Link Between Work-Life Conflict and Demands on Canada's Health Care System - Report 3 (March 2004)
• A Report on Mental Illnesses in Canada (October 2002)
• Coping with the Stress of Terrorism and Armed Conflict (2002)
• All Together Now: How families are affected by depression and manic depression (1999)
• Suicide in the Northwest Territories (1998)
• Exploring the Links Between Substance Use and Mental Health: A Discussion Paper and A Round Table (1996)
• Impact of family violence on mental health
• Suicide in Canada (1994) with an appendix on First Nations and Inuit

For other information on mental health visit the Canadian Health Network, a consumer health information service brought to you by the Public Health Agency of Canada and major health organizations across Canada.