CCPA Supports Health Action Lobby's Call to Action on Health Care - The Canadian Way

OTTAWA, Sept. 22, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) joins other members of Canada's Health Action Lobby (HEAL) to remind federal leaders that Canadians want government to make the challenges facing our health-care system a priority. Public opinion research consistently reveals that Canadians care deeply about finding the sustainable and cost-effective options that will enhance our national health. And healthy Canadians make for a healthy and competitive economy. Yet, to date, policy debates associated with the 2015 federal election have rarely focused on health care.

Through its Consensus Statement entitled The Canadian Way - Accelerating Innovation and Improving Health System Performance, HEAL has issued a call to action, contending that an effective health system depends on enhanced collaboration among all levels of government. HEAL also expects the federal government to re-assert its legitimate and facilitative leadership role.

"As a contributing member of HEAL, CCPA proudly supports The Canadian Way, particularly the recommendation that the federal government introduce a National Health Innovation Fund," said CCPA President, Natasha Caverley.

One of the priority areas of the proposed innovation fund is Mental Health and Addictions, targeting resources to specific outcome-based provincial and territorial programs to improve access to evidence-based, inter-professional mental health services and community supports. The fund will promote effective practices on a pan-Canadian basis for the advancement of mental health and for the proliferation of treatments and innovative approaches that work effectively to reduce the economic, socio-cultural, and human cost of mental illness. It would also work towards the establishment of pan-Canadian mental health indicators and objectives that are currently lacking.

"We have seen some encouraging mental health platform commitments thus far in the election," added Dr. Caverley. "CCPA asks all political parties to support this HEAL recommendation and to consider incorporating it into their platforms under the health care banner."

HEAL is a coalition of 39 national health and consumer associations and organizations dedicated to protecting and strengthening Canada's health system. Created in 1991, and representing more than 650,000 health-care providers and Canada's largest health organizations, the major focus of HEAL's activities has been on the federal role in health and health care. The Canadian Way Consensus Statement calls for health sector reform and funding initiatives grounded in compassion, consensus, and collaboration.

Read The Canadian Way at http://tinyurl.com/q3c7gyl

SOURCE Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association

For the Health Action Lobby: Lisa Robertson: 613-739-7032, [email protected]; Susan Wright: 519-703-2020, [email protected]; www.healthactionlobby.ca, @CanadaHEAL; For further information on CCPA, please contact: Emily Reid, Office: [phone], [email protected]