Last week a constituent, pushing all her earthly belongings in a grocery cart, came into the office and asked me to help her find a place to live.

After a series of phone calls to a few of the hardworking organizations in town who help out in situations like this, a spot was found.  Support staff at the shelter told me later though that she did not stay, noting that, when mental illness is a factor,it is difficult to administer help.

It is estimated that one in five Canadians will develop a mental illness at some time in their lives. It affects all ages, in all segments of the population, and in all regions of the country including both rural and urban areas.

Not only does it take a toll emotionally on families, the economic costs associated with poor mental health and mental illness are also significant, both in terms of their impact on businesses and on the health care system.

In May 2006, a comprehensive Senate report entitled “Out of the Shadows At Last: Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction Services in Canada”, recommended the creation of a Canadian Mental Health Commission.  The Commission would develop a national mental health strategy, share knowledge and best practices for the benefit of Canadians, and undertake public awareness and education in order to combat the hurtful stigma associated with mental illness.

The Government responded to that report in Budget 2007 by announcing it would establish a Canadian Mental Health Commission, committing $10 million over the next two years and $15 million per year starting in 2009–10. 

Will it resolve all of the challenges associated with mental illness?  Will it find a way to give my constituent a permanent and safe place to live?  As the 2006 Senate report said, “We know how difficult it will be to improve the lives of people living with mental illness.  We know it will be tougher still to change deep-seated public attitudes and reduce the stigma and discrimination they face. To put each of them on the road to recovery will be an extraordinary challenge. Yet we are optimistic that the time has come when meaningful change can, and will, be made. From coast to coast we have met politicians, government officials, mental health service providers and professionals, and many, many ordinary Canadians, who are willing to help make change a reality, to help bring people living with mental illness into the mainstream of Canadian society.”

In Kelowna, meaningful change is already happening due to the efforts of local organizations that work hard to support families who are living with mental illness and raise awareness of adult and adolescent mental health.  Both my wife and I attended the recent community forum hosted by the Supporting Families with Parental Mental Illness Committee which is comprised of parent representatives and representatives from our local service agencies.  The forum was supported by IHA, the Kelowna Woman’s Resource Centre, CATCH, Okanagan Families Society, ARC Programs, and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The Canadian Mental Health Commission will help to support the work of our community organizations, national associations and other levels of government.   By accepting that we are all part of the solution we will change the way we see and respond to mental health and illness.  The key is to see others and their stories as our own - our families, our society, and our responsibility.