Minister Hoping For Consensus On Mental Health Act

Hundreds of health stakeholders and mental health consumers are gathered today, Feb. 22, in Halifax with the goal of building consensus around mental health legislation in Nova Scotia.

Health Minister Angus MacIsaac this morning welcomed the crowd and set the stage for the day's agenda.

"We all share the responsibility of making sure that appropriate laws are in place to protect the health and well-being of our fellow Nova Scotians," said Mr. MacIsaac. "This is an opportunity to work together to make this legislation the best it can be."

The conference will feature key-note speakers Dr. John Gray, consultant and adjunct professor, department of psychiatry, University of Western Ontario; Archibald Kaiser, professor, faculty of law and department of psychiatry, Dalhousie University; and Gerrit Clements, special health law consultant, Ministry of Health Services British Columbia. The conference will be moderated by Anne McGuire, CEO, IWK Health Centre.

Participants are looking forward to hearing expert and balanced views of mental health legislation from across the country.

"Legislation should reflect clinical advances to ensure vulnerable individuals receive timely treatment to diminish the harmful effects of prolonged, untreated illness," said Dr. Scott Theriault, acting clinical director, Capital Health Mental Health Program. "That's why discussion about this topic is so important."

The minister commended the audience on the work done to develop the province's mental health standards -- the first of their kind in Canada.

"Those standards are forming the strategic direction for mental health reform for the next five to 10 years, and were developed in the spirit of collaboration. We need to work together in the same way to accomplish the next step -- new legislation."

In his opening remarks, Mr. MacIsaac spoke about the need for legislation.

"I recognize that more resources are needed within the mental health system. The Department of Health has developed a strategic plan for mental health to address this. But it is our responsibility to make sure that those who are unable to make treatment decisions, due to a mental disorder, get the treatment they need when they need it."

The conference will end this afternoon with a reaction panel commenting on the day's agenda.

Input from the conference will then be evaluated in order to look at next steps for mental health legislation in the province.