In the last fiscal year, Calgary ERs had almost 30,000 visits from patients seeking mental health services. The co-author of a report into the province's mental health and addictions systems says the Alberta government isn't spending enough of its healthcare budget on mental health. As a result, the capacity of the system to handle the volume of mental illness complaints is being overwhelmed. The report called for expanded treatment and better training for family doctors to help patients early before their conditions get worse. It said patients in poverty should get access to housing, social services and other assistance while they get mental health treatment. The report also called for more funding, but the author recommends Alberta up the percentage of healthcare dollars spent on mental illnesses be increased from less than 6% currently to 9%.
NBHC Sustainability