Mental health supports need bolstering, not division, says AUPE
By Medicine Hat News on June 26, 2024.
@MedicineHatNews With Mental Health month drawing to a close, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees looks to remind residents of the risks involved in the planned separation of mental health from primary and acute care. A release on Monday called the move a “mistake,” said AUPE. “June is mental health awareness month. Now is the time to rethink the government’s plans to separate mental health from the rest of the healthcare system,” says Curtis Jackson, vice-president of AUPE, which represents employees who provide mental-health services. The plan to move mental health and addiction support to a new entity called Recovery Alberta goes against professional advice and advocacy, says Jackson. “Mental-health professionals have advocated for mental-health care to be recognized as just as important as physical care. Moving it off to an entity siloed from primary and acute care risks weakening services,” he says. “Our members involved in mental-health care say a good first step for the government would be to recognize the risks involved in spinning off this vital sector from mainstream primary and acute care,” said Jackson. “We need to build bridges between areas of care, not create chasms to separate them.” 8-7
