New initiatives in Eastern Canada mean that more support is coming for individuals, especially young people, who suffer from mental illness. A article released yesterday by the Free Press outlined Nova Scotia's new plan to help reach people, who are exhibiting signs of mental illness, earlier in life.
With over 60 recommendations for improving the current provincial mental health strategy in Nova Scotia, and over $5 million dollars to kick start the initiatives, it is very encouraging to see government providing more resources to helping people in need. Imagine - Mental Health Matters is very pleased and wishes the best for this new program.
See part of the article below:
Nova Scotia unveils mental health plan to identify and address issues early. By Allison Auld, The Canadian Press, Posted 05/16/2012
HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government will place more clinicians in schools and assess children as young as 18 months old as part of a broad mental health strategy aimed at intervening early and reducing wait times for care.
Health Minister Maureen MacDonald laid out the province's first mental health strategy Wednesday, saying it will provide $5.2 million for various initiatives in the first year.
MacDonald said the focus of the five-year plan will be on identifying potential mental health conditions early and trying to deliver care to people outside of hospital settings, if possible.
"We need a system that's more community based, we need faster access sooner and we need to intervene earlier," she told reporters. "These are all things that will provide us with much different results so that people don't end up in crisis."
The province plans to increase the number of schools with psychologists, nurses or social workers to about 80 as part of an ongoing program to detect mental health concerns, start treatment or refer young people to specialists.
MacDonald said early detection is critical since 70 per cent of mental illnesses begin before the age of 25.
See the full Free Press article here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/health/nova-scotia-unveils-mental-health-plan-to-identify-and-address-issues-early-151716245.html
