Sep 23, 2019
Climate-crisis anxiety fuelling Canada's mental-health woes, Greens say
The Canadian Press
FREDERICTON -- The Green party says anxiety about political instability and the looming climate crisis are placing new strains on Canadians' mental well-being.
The party is outlining a plan to break down barriers -- including insufficient funding and erosion of universal care -- it says prevent many people from getting the mental-health care they need.
Green Leader Elizabeth May is taking the message to Fredericton today as part of a push for votes in Atlantic Canada, a region where the party hopes to make a breakthrough in the Oct. 21 election.
The party wants to prioritize expansion of mental-health and rehabilitation services through the Canada Health Accord, reduce wait times for assistance programs and put more money into mental-health services in rural and remote areas.
The Greens would also examine climate change-related mental illnesses caused by trauma from natural disasters and extreme weather and the resulting stressful displacement of families.
In addition, the party would treat the opioid crisis as a health-care issue rather than a criminal matter.