The Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine, and the Department of Psychiatry at the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke fully endorse the first Mental Health Strategy for Canada

MONTREAL, May 9, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - As partners of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine - Mental Health University Institute, and the Department of Psychiatry at the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke wholeheartedly endorse the very first Mental Health Strategy for Canada, which was announced yesterday in Ottawa.

The Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine and the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke strongly support this historic initiative. "This strategy is a breath of fresh air for the mental health sector; it will encourage all of us to step up our efforts to improve public mental health. We are all working to promote better access to care and greater fluidity in the continuum of health care services," explained Lynne McVey, Nurse, MSc, and Executive Director of the Douglas Institute. "We join together in congratulating the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and we hope that this new strategy becomes a lasting one," added André Lemieux, Executive Director of Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine.

"People living with a mental health problem and their loved ones are already actively involved in executing the vision set out by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Our role is to support them as much in this process as we do in their recovery journey," stated Pierre Beauséjour, MD, Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke. As mental health stakeholders, a number of the plan's recommendations are already the focus of the work at our institutions.

The Douglas Institute, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine and the Department of Psychiatry at the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke encourage everyone in the community to read the Mental Health Strategy for Canada and to make this inspired and inspiring vision their own.

Lynne McVey, Nurse, MSc, Executive Director, Douglas Institute
Mimi Israel, MD, Psychiatrist-in-Chief, Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Institute
André Lemieux, Executive Director, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine
Denise Fortin, Assistant Director and Co-Director, Clinical Services, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine
Pierre Beauséjour, MD, Chief, Department of Psychiatry, CHUS

Kevin Bilodeau, Media Relations
Communications and Public Affairs, Douglas Institute
Phone: [phone], ext. 3674. Cell: 514-799-2567
[e-mail]

Catherine Dion, Media Relations
Communications Department, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine
Phone: [phone], ext. 2986. Cell: 514-235-4036
[e-mail]