This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
"Mental health is critical to our overall well-being. It should be prioritized as highly as our physical health. Governments, employers, and society in general needs to do more to protect and support people's mental health needs. The pandemic has greatly increased the number of people struggling with mental health issues and NUPGE is again calling for action." ― Bert Blundon, NUPGE President
Ottawa (9 Oct. 2022) ― This World Mental Health Day (WMHD), October 10, 2022, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) again calls on all levels of government to act in response to this urgent crisis. As the pandemic has become normalized, the affects of the social isolation, anxiety and economic uncertainty continues to impact people's mental health, and most people do not have the support they need.
Health care staffing shortages also a crisis of mental health
The current health care crisis is concurrently a mental health crisis. The high levels of burnout and stress that health care workers experienced through the pandemic, and continue to experience, have compounded staffing shortages. Greater shortages lead to even greater workloads and thus the cycle continues. Unfortunately, there are no simple solutions to the health human resources crisis as health care workers are highly trained and cannot easily be replaced. NUPGE continues to call for a pan-Canadian health human resources strategy and urgent action by all levels of government and health care employers.
Health care system overburdened by mental health crisis
Making matters worse is that people in mental health crisis end up using the general health care system to try and get help, but there are limited mental health resources available. This is another stressor on a system which is already at the breaking point.
The overdose crisis is another example of the interaction between mental health and the health care system. The massive increase in overdose cases during the pandemic is an added stress on the whole health care system. Workers from first-responders to all health care providers are directly impacted by the rapid increase in drug overdoses and deaths. Last year, NUPGE called on the federal government to declare the overdoes crisis a public health emergency. Proper supports are needed in the community to deal with those in crisis before they overdose. These resources would most importantly save lives but would also relieve the burden on our first-responders and on the health care system overall.
988 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline a step forward
The CRTC has announced that a 988-hotline system for access to suicide prevention and mental health resources will be launched on Nov. 30, 2023. NUPGE called for the 988-hotline to be urgently implemented last year, NUPGE welcomes this development as an urgently needed lifeline for those in crisis. NUPGE is again calling for there to be community resources available for callers to be referred to, and that these resources be funded and accessible to assist those in crisis in a timely manner.
World Health Organization calls for action
The World Health Organization's (WHO) theme for WMHD 2022 is 'Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority'. NUPGE supports greater investment and global support for the WHO's demands. The WHO estimates that one in eight people globally are living with a mental health disorder. They also note that services, skills, and funding available for mental health remain in short supply, and fall far below what is needed, especially in low and middle-income countries. Canada could, and should be a strong voice globally for increasing resources for mental health supports, but only after action is taken in Canada. Around the world, the WHO notes, mental health services have been severely disrupted due to the COVID pandemic and that the treatment gap for mental health conditions has widened.
NUPGE is supporting the WHO call for making mental health and well-being for all a global priority and is again calling on all levels of government to make mental health a priority and to invest in resources and services which will support people's mental health and well-being. There is no health without mental health.
"Mental health is critical to our overall well-being. It should be prioritized as highly as our physical health. Governments, employers, and society in general need to do more to protect and support people's mental health needs. The pandemic has greatly increased the number of people struggling with mental health issues and NUPGE is again calling for action." stated Bert Blundon, NUPGE President.
Need help?
If this is an urgent situation, call 9-1-1 if you or someone you know is not able to stay safe, seek help right away.
Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) if you have mental health concerns including thoughts of suicide
Call 310-Mental Health, (310-6789, no area code necessary) for support, information and resources specific to mental health.
Here are additional links to resources on a range of mental health issues from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Wellness Together Canada