October 3, 2006
For immediate release

News Release

Steven Fletcher Welcomes Report on Mental Illness in Canada

Ottawa - Steven Fletcher, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, today welcomed The Human Face of Mental Health and Illness in Canada, a report that will provide the public, policy makers, health professionals, researchers, educators, and stakeholders with vital information about mental health and mental illness. This information will also help decrease the stigma associated with mental illness as it leads to increased awareness and knowledge on the subject.

"This report provides insight that will help us make progress on an important issue that affects Canadians," said Mr. Fletcher, who released the report on behalf of Health Minister Tony Clement. "It demonstrates the willingness of Canada's New Government to better understand mental illness in Canada today, and the best ways to cope with and treat it."

The report was developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada, in collaboration with Statistics Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Health Canada, and the Mood Disorders Society of Canada. Mr. Fletcher made the announcement at a luncheon during a Stigma & Discrimination Research Workshop sponsored by the Mood Disorders Society of Canada.

"The Mood Disorders Society of Canada is proud to have had the opportunity to work with the Public Health Agency of Canada in the development of The Human Face of Mental Health and Illness in Canada," said Phil Upshall, National Executive Director of the Mood Disorders Society of Canada. "This report is an important data and information resource on mental illnesses in Canada. In order to reduce the stigma of mental illness in Canadian society the availability of good quality information from trustworthy sources is essential."

The Human Face of Mental Health and Illness in Canada compiles data from many sources and interprets it to better inform the public, policy makers, health professionals, researchers, educators, and NGOs about mental health and mental illness.

This report provides concrete data and evidence needed for further work and surveillance.  It reflects some of the concerns with respect to surveillance and decreasing the stigma associated with mental illness, found in the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology in May 2006.

The report shows that stigma is a major factor influencing whether people go for treatment, talk about their illness with others, or feel accepted in the community. This report includes detailed information on the major types of mental illness, which will help people better understand them.

It also underscores that the public, families, schools, workplaces, non-government organizations, governments, and health care providers all have a role to play to promote mental health and assist recovery of those with mental illness.

The first Report on Mental Illnesses in Canada was produced in 2002. The new report, like its predecessor, includes chapters on mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and suicide, in addition to a general chapter on mental illness. New chapters have been added on mental health, problematic substance use, gambling and hospitalization. All chapters have been reviewed by external experts.

The information in the previous report has been updated and new data has been added from the 2002 Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-being and the 2004 Health Behaviours of School Children Survey.

The Human Face of Mental Health and Illness in Canada can be found at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

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Media Inquiries:

Alain Desroches
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 948-7970