The Mental Health Commission of Canada is an organization that promotes mental health wellbeing throughout Canada. The organization works with dozens of partners to improve the services available to people with mental health issues. The organization also aims to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems. Support is also given to people who live with mental health problems and illnesses. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is primarily funded by Health Canada.
In the House of Commons by the Hon. Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance, renewed mandate for The Mental Health Commission of Canada on April 21, 2015. The renewed mandate allows the MHCC to further develop its program, coming seven years after the organization was formed.
Outlining the issue, Louise Bradley, President and CEO of the MHCC said: “This is wonderful news for the mental health community.”
She then added, outlining why the renewal is so important: “The MHCC’s laudable achievements were only made possible by the support and collaboration of our outstanding partners. Together, we have advocated for change. And together, we are succeeding.”
Since 2007 the MHCC has issued many programs and initiatives. According to Bradley, these include “Changing Directions, Changing Lives”, the “Mental Health Strategy for Canada”, the launch of the world’s first “National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.” The Standard is a voluntary set of guidelines, tools and resources focused on promoting employees’ psychological health and preventing psychological harm due to workplace factors.
In addition, MHCC led the “At Home/Chez Soi” survey, which was the largest research study of its kind, supporting the Housing First approach. At “Home/Chez Soi” was a four-year project across five cities that aimed to provide practical support to Canadians experiencing homelessness and mental health problems.
Following the mandate being reissued, the MHCC aims to launch its Mental Health Action Plan in the fall of 2015. The plan will address emerging issues within the mental health system and will lay a foundation for the MHCC’s future work.
