The Implementation of the 2012 Mental Health Strategy for Canada Through the Lens of FASD
Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
16 April 2018
Abstract
It is the current authors’ perspective that the successful implementation of Changing Directions, Changing Lives, which seeks to improve mental health and well-being in Canada, cannot be realized effectively without considering FASD. Given that 94% of individuals with FASD also have mental disorders, practitioners in the mental health system are encountering these individuals every day. Most mental health professionals have not been trained to identify or diagnose FASD, and therefore it goes largely “unseen,” and individual treatment plans lack efficacy. Implementation of FASD-informed recommendations, such as those of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015), can provide a more effective approach to mental health services and improve mental health outcomes.
Résumé
Il est de notre point de vue que la mise en œuvre de Changer les orientations, changer des vies, qui vise à améliorer la santé mentale et le bien-être au Canada, ne peut être efficacement réalisé sans tenir compte de l’ETCAF. Compte tenu de 94 pour cent des personnes atteintes de l’ETCAF ont aussi des troubles mentaux, le système de santé mentale se heurte à ces personnes tous les jours. La plupart des professionnels de la santé mentale ont pas été formés pour identifier ou diagnostiquer l’ETCAF, ce qui signifie qu’il va en grande partie “invisible” et les plans de traitement donnés aux personnes manquent d’efficacité. La mise en œuvre des recommandations de l’ETCAF inclus, tels que ceux observés dans la Commission vérité et réconciliation du Canada (2015) peut fournir une approche plus efficace de services de santé mentale et de produire de meilleurs résultats positifs en matière de santé mentale.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 36 • Number 4 • December 2017
Pages: 69 - 81
History
Version of record online: 16 April 2018
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Tara Anderson, Mansfield Mela, and Michelle Stewart. 2017. The Implementation of the 2012 Mental Health Strategy for Canada Through the Lens of FASD. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.
36(4): 69-81. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2017-031
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