Niagara advocate pushing region to declare emergency on mental health, homelessness
Wed, January 25, 2023
After four years of trying in vain, an advocate from Niagara is hoping to convince regional council to declare homelessness, mental health and addiction public emergencies.
“I think I’m gonna see a lot of changed hearts and a lot of changed minds,” Steven Soos told The Lake Report.
Before the proposal can make it to council, it will first be reviewed by the region’s public health committee Feb. 14, he said.
When his proposal last came to the region in fall 2021 it was dismissed, though it received endorsements from 11 of Niagara’s 12 lower-tier municipalities.
The region formally acknowledged the issues raised by Soos, but stopped short of declaring a state of emergency.
Soos self-identifies as Metis and traces his ancestry back to his grandfather.
He sees the region’s “watered-down response” to the triple threat crisis as another broken promise to Indigenous people.
According to Statistics Canada, 12 per cent of First Nations people living off reserve have experienced homelessness.
Statistics Canada also estimates the rate of suicide in Indigenous groups is three times that of non-Indigenous groups.
The rate of alcohol-related deaths in Aboriginal communities is also twice that of the the general population, according to research by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.
Soos believes if council passes his motion, the region will be able to get a “co-ordinated response” from the province.
He said the region can drum up additional support and funding for the crisis by “using the same legislation” used to respond to COVID-19.
Long-term, he wants the federal government to conduct a national study on the emergency of mental health.
Evan Loree, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Lake Report
Wed, January 25, 2023
After four years of trying in vain, an advocate from Niagara is hoping to convince regional council to declare homelessness, mental health and addiction public emergencies.
“I think I’m gonna see a lot of changed hearts and a lot of changed minds,” Steven Soos told The Lake Report.
Before the proposal can make it to council, it will first be reviewed by the region’s public health committee Feb. 14, he said.
When his proposal last came to the region in fall 2021 it was dismissed, though it received endorsements from 11 of Niagara’s 12 lower-tier municipalities.
The region formally acknowledged the issues raised by Soos, but stopped short of declaring a state of emergency.
Soos self-identifies as Metis and traces his ancestry back to his grandfather.
He sees the region’s “watered-down response” to the triple threat crisis as another broken promise to Indigenous people.
According to Statistics Canada, 12 per cent of First Nations people living off reserve have experienced homelessness.
Statistics Canada also estimates the rate of suicide in Indigenous groups is three times that of non-Indigenous groups.
The rate of alcohol-related deaths in Aboriginal communities is also twice that of the the general population, according to research by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.
Soos believes if council passes his motion, the region will be able to get a “co-ordinated response” from the province.
He said the region can drum up additional support and funding for the crisis by “using the same legislation” used to respond to COVID-19.
Long-term, he wants the federal government to conduct a national study on the emergency of mental health.
Evan Loree, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Lake Report
While the Bell Let's Talk campaign has raised millions, many want more mental health action -- without the branding
Elianna Lev
Wed, January 25, 2023
Wasting time in smartphone. Millennial generation mental health. Life in metaverse, not in real world. Conceptual of bad condition of broken hearted, sadness, loneliness or depress woman.
(Oleg Breslavtsev via Getty Images)
Trigger warning: The content and commercials featured in this article may be disturbing to some readers.
If you or a loved one is struggling, visit talksuicide.ca. You can also call Talk Suicide Canada toll free at 1-833-456-4566. Québec residents can call 1 866 APPELLE (277-3553).
Bell Canada’s annual mental health campaign day, Let’s Talk, is receiving criticism in its 13th year. While many across the country took to their social media to promote or take part in the day, including major corporations and facilities like the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators, Toronto’s CAMH hospital, the Toronto Film Festival and Calgary Police, some Canadian viewers and experts are sharing a different view
This year, the campaign's television advertisements and billboards have struck a nerve. Some feel the grave subject matter, which addresses issues like suicide and anxiety, is sensationalizing the topic, as well as has the potential to negatively trigger people with mental health issues.
Others point out that more needs to be done for mental health in the country, where it can often be complicated, convoluted and expensive to access the right services.
Others were critical of the corporations intention. Some put a spotlight on Bell Media's employment practices and recent controversy over the firing of anchor Lisa LaFlamme.
I Take metal health very seriously. However, I will not support #BellLetsTalkDay after the fiasco with Lisa Laflamme and the layoffs last year. Bell caused mental health issues
— halifax man (@sdpuddicombe) January 25, 2023
The Let's Talk campaign first launched in 2010, with the intention of creating a dialogue around mental health issues. It has raised tens of millions of dollars towards funding more than 1,400 community grants and various mental health programs and research. According to the Let's Talk website, one third of Canadians say they've taken action related to mental health since Let's Talk first beg
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