NewsToGo
OPDI NewsToGo Issue #195 - August 22, 2008
1. MHCC Receives Extension and Additional Funding at CMA AGM Speech
The Mental Health Commission of Canada has had its term extended from the original 5 years to a decade. Federal Health Minister Tony Clement also announced a boost in funding from $55 to $130 million.
You can read about the announcement at the Canadian Medical Association website, where it was announced at their annual meeting. Mixed into this article are the contentious views of the federal government around harm reduction:
http://www.cma.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/86936/la_id/1.htm
The Mental Health Commission of Canada has the following reaction to the announcement on their website:
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/documents/EN_ApplaudOttawaAug1808.pdf
2. CMA Releases National Survey on Stigma and Mental Illness
The CMA released a survey indicating that attitudes among Canadians around stigma and mental illness are still alarmingly negative:
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/08/15/mental-health.html
3. M-SAA Webcast/Teleconference August 26 2 -3 pm (repeat)
As required under the Local Health System Integration Act (LHSIA) by March 2009, all LHIN-funded Health Service Providers in the Mental Health and Addictions Sector need to have signed a Service Accountability Agreement (SAA) with the LHIN that funds them. A standard template agreement has been prepared, complete with schedules, for consultation.
Please join us for a second information and update session on the
Mental Health & Addictions Service Accountability Agreement
(M-SAA) Template at:
August 26, 2008 - 2-3pm
(Webcast and teleconference information will follow shortly.)
4. ARCH Survey on Tribunal Barriers (August 25th Deadline)
ARCH is conducting an overview of the barriers experienced by people with disabilities at Tribunals in Ontario.
If you had or are waiting to have a hearing and/or mediation at the Social Benefits Tribunal, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal or the Landlord and Tenant Board and you have a disability, we need you to tell us about your experience at the above Tribunals. We ask that you complete our confidential survey. Your responses to questions in this survey will have a direct impact on ARCH’s work in making the justice system more accessible for people with disabilities. The deadline to complete the survey is August 25th, 2008.
To complete the survey, please go on-line to http://archdisabilityl.survey.sgizmo.com or phone Viktoria at ARCH Disability Law Centre Toll-free at 1-866-482-2724 or TTY at 1-866-482-2728.
5. Mental Health Police Records Check Coalition Petition Package (action requested)
Please find enclosed the detailed instructions and a blank petition form and forward the completed documents as directed. The first deadline is the first week of September; future dates include November 2008.
Petition_Instruction_Package.pdf
6. PPAO Submission on Bill 77
Bill 77 is the proposed Services for People with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008. As such the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office’s response would be of particular interest to stakeholders interested in the dual diagnosis field. We have attached this document for your information.
Bill_77_-_PPAO_submission.pdf_-_Adobe_Acrobat_Professional_.pdf
7. “ODSP Raise the Rate Campaign” Toolkit
Houselink is an organization that is part of the ODSP Action Coalition. They have come up with a toolkit to lead a campaign to raise Ontario Disability Support Program rates by 20%. In light of the ongoing anti-poverty agenda proposed by the provincial government, the timing is appropriate for you to consider taking action. This is attached for your information.
2_ODSP_campaign_package_(3).doc
8. Shorter Hospital Stays for Canadians with Mental Health Issues
The Canadian Institute for Health Information study found a reduction in the length of hospital visits for mental health consumers as measured in 2000 – 2001 (33 days) and subsequently in 2005 – 2006 (16 days). We have the press release with links to the report, and sample stakeholder reaction in the news article:
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage.jsp?cw_page=media_19aug2008_e
9. Peer Advocates in Emergency Room and Inpatient Units Profiled
This New York state newspaper highlights the work being done by mental health consumers in Ellis Hospital:
http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/aug/14/0814_Peer/
You can find out more about the program at this website:
http://www.ellishospital.org/mentalhealth/Peer.htm
10. Consumer-Run Residential Crisis Programs Healthier than Psychiatric Wards
Greater symptom improvement and service satisfaction was experienced in consumer-run facilities compared with locked inpatient units in this longitudinal study. The authors also noted the cost-effectiveness in addition to improved health outcomes.
We have a press release and a link to the journal with this article:
http://www.phi.org/news-viewRelease.cfm?pressReleaseID=156&year=2008
11. Voluntary Exercise may not Improve Mental Health
This Dutch study suggests that there might be a genetic factor to explain the difference between exercise and mood:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/117213.php
12. Postpartum and Depression Theory Involves Serotonin Link
How a fetus gets its nutrition and oxygen may in turn affect the mother’s biochemistry and can lead to postpartum depression is explained here:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/117699.php
13. Fruit Juice Linked to Reduction in Drug Effects
We have a media report and press release of a study reviewing the link between drinking fruit juice and its effect on medication:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080819/juice_drugs_080819/20080819?hub=Health
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-08/acs-nrt072308.php
14. OPDI’s Revised Website
Check out OPDI’s website here:
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Thanks for reading!
The Staff of OPDI
NewsToGo is OPDI’s e-mail update providing timely and meaningful information to its stakeholders. The ideas expressed are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of OPDI. We welcome your submissions; please direct them to . Preference will be given to material which directly relates to OPDI member affiliates and issues of concern to consumer/survivors throughout Ontario. We reserve the right to edit the length and style of all materials submitted. The current and back issues of NewsToGo can be found at http://www.opdi.org.
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