An Environmental Scan of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Atlantic Canada

 

Martha Muzychka

Prepared for
Public Health Agency of Canada
Atlantic Regional Office

September 2007

PDF Format (454 KB)

 

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Également disponible en français sous le titre: Analyse du Contexte de la Santé Mentale et de la Maladie Mentale au Canada Atlantique

Contents may not be reproduced for commercial purposes, but any other reproduction, with acknowledgements, is encouraged. Please credit the source as follows: An Environmental Scan of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Atlantic Canada, 2007. Produced by Martha Muzychka for the Public Health Agency of Canada, Atlantic Regional Office.

For more information contact:
Atlantic Regional Office
Public Health Agency of Canada
1525 - 1505 Barrington Street
Halifax NS B3J 3Y6
Tel: (902) 426-2700
Fax: (902) 426-9689
Email: atlantic-atlantique@phac-aspc.gc.ca
Web site: atlantic.phac.gc.ca

© Public Health Agency of Canada, 2007

 

Acknowledgements

Advisory Committee

The Atlantic Regional Office of the Public Health Agency of Canada and Martha Muzychka would like to thank the Advisory Committee which provided valuable input into the design and implementation of the environmental scan. The Advisory Committee identified the priorities for the report, identified key informants, provided input on data collection tools, and reviewed the draft report.

Jean-Louis Bouchard, Assistant to the Associate Deputy Minister, New Brunswick Department of Health
Reid Burke, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association, Prince Edward Island Division
John Campbell, Director, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Annapolis Valley Health
Geoff Chaulk, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association, Newfoundland and Labrador Division
Anne Marie Leger, Senior Policy Analyst, Atlantic Regional Office, Health Canada
Tracy Ryan, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association, New Brunswick Division
Linda Smith, Executive Director, Mental Health, Children's Services and Addiction Treatment, Nova Scotia Department of Health,
Carol Tooton, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association, Nova Scotia Division

KEY INFORMANTS

The author wishes to thank all of the individuals who gave generously of their time in interviews and by e-mail to share their knowledge of issues, trends, and priorities for mental health and mental illness in Atlantic Canada. A full list of key informants is contained in Appendix III.

The author also wishes to acknowledge with much appreciation the work of Françoise Enguehard, Vivat Communications, for her work with the Francophone informants, including carrying out the interviews and preparing the English language summaries.

PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA

The author would also like to thank staff of the Atlantic Regional Office of the Public Health Agency of Canada for their help with the project:

Andrea Lebel		Chioni McAlister
Fiona Chin-Yee		Karl Nightingale

 

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. INTRODUCTION
				1.1	Definitions
				1.2	Report structure
2. METHODOLOGY
				2.1	Philosophical approach
				2.2	Project management
				2.3	Research tools
3. LITERATURE REVIEW
				3.1	Communities of interest
				3.2	Gendered perspectives
				3.3	Mental illness as chronic disease
				3.4	Provincial considerations
				3.5	Emerging issues
				3.6	Summary
4. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL REVIEW
				4.1	Prevalence
				4.2	Health Determinants
				4.3	Summary
5. KEY INFORMANTS ANALYSIS
				5.1	What are the current issues relating to mental health and mental illness?
				5.2	What are the emerging issues?
				5.3	What has changed in the region?
				5.4	Where are the gaps?
				5.5	What are the opportunities?
				5.6	What are the priorities?
6. FUTURE ACTIONS
				6.1	Recommendations
				6.2	Conclusions

APPENDIX I:		WORKS CONSULTED
APPENDIX II:		ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX III:		KEY INFORMANTS LIST
APPENDIX IV:		KEY INFORMANTS QUESTIONNAIRE
APPENDIX V:		ATLANTIC MENTAL HEALTH PROFILE SUMMARIZED FROM THE TIDES OF CHANGE