Public Issues

Mental health issues affect us all, not only on an individual but also on a social level. Access to employment, housing, and mental health services as well as removing barriers such as mental illness stigma and discrimination are all important public issues that touch the lives of people living with mental health and substance use problems. Below you can find more information on a range of public issues and read about the projects CMHA BC has been involved with.

Fact sheets

The fact sheets below were researched and written by CMHA BC on behalf of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information

• Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Mental Health Issue

• Cross Cultural Mental Health and Substance Use

• Housing for People with Mental Health and Substance Use Problems

• Mental Disorders and Substance Use in the Workplace

• Mental Disorders, Addictions, and the Question of Violence

• Stigma and Discrimination Around Mental Health and Substance Use Problems

• Unemployment, Mental Health and Substance Use

Vote Mental Health 4 All | One Action

Vote Mental Health 4 All | One Action is a campaign to create public awareness about the issues facing British Columbians with mental illness and addictions and to support a movement for change this provincial election on May 14, 2013.

• Vote Mental Health 4 All

The framework for support

The Framework is CMHA's central guiding philosophy. It holds that the person experiencing mental illness is at the centre of any supportive mental health system.

• CMHA Framework for Support

Income and disability benefits

• Disability Without Poverty Network: Overdue - The Case for Increasing the Persons with Disbility Benefit in BC (PDF)

Applying for disability benefits fact sheets

The Help Sheets below were prepared by BC Coalition of Persons with Disabilities' (BCCPD) Advocacy Access program. These links direct to the BCCPD website.

• The Persons with Disabilities Benefit Application

• Checklist for the Persons with Disabilities Benefit

• Health Supplements for People with Disabilities      

• Trusts for People Receiving the Persons with Disabilities Benefit              

• Income Assistance Application Process for People with Disabilities     

• Registered Disability Savings Plan and the Disability Tax Credit

Mental health and the criminal justice system

These resources and fact sheets were developed through our projects on Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System.

• Mental health and Police fact sheets (PDF)—2005

• Criminal Justice Diversion for Persons with Mental Disorders: A review of best practices (PDF)—2008

• A Framework for Diversion of Persons with a Mental Disorder in BC (PDF)—2008

• Keeping People with Mental Disorders Out of Trouble with the Law (PDF)—2008

• Crisis Intervention Policy for Police Working with People with Mental illness/Concurrent Disorders (PDF)—2008

• Best Practice in Mental Health Training for Law Enforcement Personnel (PDF)—2008

• Study in Blue and Grey: Police Interventions with People with Mental Illness: A review of challenges and responses (PDF)—2003

Family and youth involvement

These resources were developed through our Strengething Family and Youth Voices Project.

• Peer Support Guide for Parents of Children or Youth with Mental Health Problems (PDF)

• Youth Helping Youth: Fostering peer support as part of the youth mental health service continuum (PDF)

• An Environmental Scan: Peer support for youth with mental health problems and their families (PDF)

Workplace disability insurance

This report and documentary were devloped as part of our Workplace Disability Insurance Project

• Navigating Workplace Disability Insurance: Helping people with mental illness find the way (PDF)—2004

• Navigating Workplace Disability Insurance Documentary

Public policy project archives

• Budget Consultation Papers

• Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System

• Provincial Income/Homeless Outreach Project

• Supported Housing Now

• Community Navigator Project

• Improving Primary Care Mental Health Services

• Strengething Family and Youth Voices

• Citizens for Mental Health Project

• Workplace Disability Insurance Project