Mental Health and Addictions Issues for Older Adults: Opening the Doors to a Strategic Framework

Published in March, 2010 by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario, a not-for-profit, charitable organization whose vision is “mentally healthy people in a healthy society.” As a core responsibility, CMHA, Ontario develops and provides public policy advice that promotes mental health and improves the lives of people living with mental illness.

The aim of this paper is to concentrate attention on older adults with mental health and addictions issues and underscore the necessity for a framework that is specifically focused on this group. The aging population in Ontario, the increasing prevalence of mental ill-health in this demographic and the associated human, health and social costs provide compelling reasons to establish a framework that prevents mental ill health, provides for early identification and early intervention if illness presents, and supports seniors so they can live in their homes, in communities of their choice.

http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/submissions.asp?cID=519019