November 17, 2008 Romeo Dallaire to discuss mental health in the military Banff… More than 400 people from the provincial, national and international mental health community will gather in Banff, November 19 – 21 to discuss how research can further advance the mental health of populations at the 4th annual Alberta Mental Health Research Showcase. Some of the topics and presentations will include:- Suicide prevention in youth – The impact of early childhood on the mental health of children – Mental health and addictions in aboriginal communities – Housing for people diagnosed with schizophrenia – Women’s stories of recovery from eating disorders – A person’s lifelong battle with stigma: from childhood to adulthood – Mental health in the workplace – Stigma and the health system The keynote speaker at the showcase is Lieutenant-General, the Honourable Romeo Dallaire, (Retired), Commander of the United Nations Observer Mission – Uganda and Rwanda and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda from July 1993 to September 1994. Dallaire is currently a Special Advisor to the federal Minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency on matters relating to War Affected Children around the world, as well as the Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada on matters relating to serving and retired members of the military and their families. In his keynote presentation he will discuss mental illness in the Canada Armed Forces and its impact on families. “The Mental Health Research Showcase has established itself as the premier learning and networking event for researchers, service providers and policymakers in mental health,” said Ken Hughes, Board Chair of Alberta Health Services, who will open the conference on Wednesday morning. “The level of expertise and interest this conference attracts is truly remarkable and signifies the importance of mental health issues in today’s society.” For further information on conference presentations and speakers, go tohttp://www.buksa.com/showcase/docs/08FinalProgram.pdf. -30- Media inquiries may be directed to: Korey Cherneski 780 415-1227
TORONTO, Nov. 17 – The Honourable Roy McMurtry and Dr. Alvin Curling called on the provincial government to provide additional investments in children’s mental health today, as part of their Roots of Violence report. The report specifically calls for a $200 million investment to provide universal community based youth mental health services within this government’s mandate.Children’s Mental Health Ontario applauds the Co-Chairs for their insight into the need to provide supports and services to children and youth suffering from mental health issues. One in five children and youth struggles with their mental health. The vast majority are undiagnosed.
Children’s mental health services are chronically under-funded, while health care, education and policing receive increases each year. It is more cost effective for the province to provide additional funding to support and assist children and youth with their mental health before they struggle in school, come into contact with the law or their health needs become critical.
Research has shown that early diagnosis and intervention are critical to providing young people with a hopeful and healthy future.
For further information: Camille Quenneville, Director of Policy and Communications, Children’s Mental Health Ontario, Telephone: (416) 921-2109 ext. 32, or cell: (416) 859-9087
