SDHU: We have no mandate on mental health — that's a problem

Although one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, mental health support is not an official part of the Sudbury and District Health Unit's mandate.

That omission is a problem, said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, the health unit's medical officer of health, during the health unit's board meeting April 16.

“More and more, this is being seen as a gap,” Sutcliffe said.

The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care determines the province's public health standards, and has never mandated mental health support for Ontario's health units.

Nicole Frappier, the Sudbury and District Health Unit's acting director of health promotion, said all health units provide some mental health support, but it's not something they are officially instructed to do.

In January 2015, the Canadian Mental Health Association surveyed Ontario's health units on their programs that relate to mental health.

The results from that survey, said Frappier, could push the province to make mental health a more important piece of the public health puzzle.

“We want to be taking a look at all the issues that can have an impact on being a healthier community,” Frappier said.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the cost of mental illnesses in Canada on the health care system was estimated to be at least $7.9 billion in 1998 – $4.7 billion in care, and $3.2 billion in disability and early death.

An additional $6.3 billion was spent on uninsured mental health services and time off work for depression and distress that was not treated by the health-care system.

Frappier said the public conversation around mental health has improved since then.

“We're not necessarily saying there are more mental health issues, but there's more dialogue around mental health issues,” she said.

The health unit has played an indirect part in that dialogue with some of its programs.

Stacey Gilbeau, a public health nurse with the health unit's school health promotion team, said she has been visiting schools to help students build more resiliency in their lives.

Using what Gilbeau calls “spark activities” she meets with youth and finds out what they are passionate about. Those passions can help them build resiliency in their lives and have better outcomes in school, and in their health.

“If you listen to youth, they'll tell you what they need,” Gilbeau said. “And if we meet those needs, we'll see them excel in so many areas.”