Make it the Issue

We are experiencing election fatigue. Personally, I think they (the politicians) are part of a conspiracy. By the time we get to May 12, 2009 we will be so tired of elections (and politicians) we will not give a damn about the outcome. But this time, for the provincial election, we have to care.

There will be much talk about the issues and each candidate will find a way to turn the conversation to the one they want to emphasize. The economy will certainly be front and centre and all candidates will be unveiling charts and graphs with lines showing how much better things will be if we vote for them.

Healthcare will be brought up because of the still unacceptable lack of staffing and services. The environment will be trotted out and we’ll be told again how we must all work to save the planet and how one side can do a better job of forcing us to do just that. Here’s an idea, let’s make mental illness the issue that way we can cover all those bases and accomplish something that will make a difference in the world as well.
Recent reports put the economic loss to Canada at $51 billion annually because of mental illness. Think of how much that infusion of cash into our economy would do to stimulate financial stability. Currently, BC has 10% of the Canadian population and a larger portion of the country’s Gross Domestic Product than other provinces’ so we should qualify for at least one-tenth of the current amount lost for mental health funding. $5 billion would keep BC in first place in mental health programs and services. A full 20% of hospital admissions are for mental illness related problems. Mental illness is responsible for one-third of the total number of days Canadians spend in hospital each year. Mental illness accounts for a stunning 40% of disability claims and sick leaves in Canada. Again, reflect on what $5 billion could do to address these issues.

What if they want to be seen as tough on crime? Twelve per cent of federally imprisoned men had a mental disorder in 2007, up from 7 per cent in 1997. Meanwhile, 21 per cent of incarcerated women were mentally ill, up from 13 per cent over the same period. And while stats are scant for provincial jails, experts say the mental-illness rates there are likely much higher. The Vancouver police reported that 31 per cent of the 1,154 calls they received during a 16-day period in December, 2007, involved a mentally disturbed person.In 2005 when asked why there is no uniform act of legislation covering mental health in Canada, Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin pointed out that mental health falls under provincial jurisdiction, but she added, “Perhaps it is something we should look at.” By doing something to reduce the impact of mental illness, we automatically reduce crime.

Addictions are always trotted out as something that we need to be concerned about at election time. The stunning correlation between mental illness and addictions was enough to drive the provincial government to address these collectively when they developed the Mental Health and Addictions Agency in 2001. Any candidate who tries to minimize the effect mental illness has on the addiction problem isn’t worthy of being on the ballot let alone getting a vote.

In terms of the environment, what could be more important than the human beings that occupy it? If the person with depression doesn’t leave their home to enjoy the clean air what purpose has the reduction in emissions accomplished for them. And, 40% of people with mental illness use cigarettes, in those who have schizophrenia that number is as high as 90%. Many more hold on to their mental health by self-medicating with cigarettes. The BC Healthy Living Alliance has targeted a drop in cigarette use as part of their concern. If we want to reduce smoking and the effects of second-hand smoke, light up the mental illness issue.

These are serious times and mental illness is a serious concern, one that disastrously affects all aspects of the life we are optimistically promised at election time. It is an issue that has been neglected far too long, despite that it may have the broadest impact of all diseases. Make mental illness the issue this year. We don’t get chances to capture political attention that often. At election time they have to be concerned with what the people think is important. Tell politicians you want them to pay attention to mental illness and that you want them to invest in fixing the problem. Fixing the problem is not just finding rooms where the ‘problem’ people will be out of sight but by developing services to treat on a continuum, by having resources in place when patients hit the street after their primary treatment, and by educating primary care providers in managing mental illness as a disease not just a nuisance condition. Get the candidates to commit to funding research to bring our knowledge on the subject on par with cancer or heart disease. Tell them at the meetings, e-mail them at their constituency offices, and pass on your feelings when their annoying phone calls come at dinner time. Don’t let another election get by without raising their conscientiousness. This is more important than anything they want to talk about.