Mental Health in Alberta

1
Mental Health in Alberta

• Beth Evans
• Director, Mental Health Promotion
• AMHB
• May 16, 2006

2
Mental Health in Alberta

• Key facts about mental illness / health in
  Alberta
• In 2003/04, just over 500,000 Albertans (16 of
  the provincial population) were treated by a
  physician for a mental health related problem.
• Anxiety and depression are the most common
  mental health diagnoses/ problems that
  individuals experience.

3
Mental Health in Alberta

• More key facts about mental illness / health in
  Alberta
• Direct costs of mental health services are 573
  million dollars.
• Mental health problems constitute the top reason
  why people consult their family physician.
• Approximately 30, 000 individuals visit a
  physician for Substance-Related Disorders in a
  given year.

4
Mental Health in Alberta

• The rate of individuals who accessed regional
  services for mental health problems/ concerns
  increased over the last four years

3,662
3,702
3,429
4,000
2,980
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
2001/02
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
5
Where do individuals access services?
6
Physician Services (2003/04)

• Percentage of Albertans 18 and over who visited a
  physician for a mental health problem/ concern in
  2003/04.

7
Physician Services (2003/04)

• Percentage of Albertans 18 and over who visited a
  physician for anxiety disorders in 2003/04.

8
Physician Services (2003/04)

• Percentage of Albertans 18 and over who visited
  a physician for substance- related disorders in
  2003/04.

9
Suicides in Alberta

• In Alberta, during the years 1997/98 through
  2001/02, there were 2,158 deaths by suicide in
  Alberta. Suicide rates during the 5 year period
  have remained fairly stable, showing some
  fluctuations between years.

20
15.1
15.2
13.9
14.3
14.3
15
10
5
0
1997/98
1998/99
1999/00
2000/01
2001/02
10
Self-Harm Activities

• In 2003/04, the overall rate for suicidal
  behaviors in Alberta was 265 per 100,000
  individuals.
• The rate of visits to Emergency Departments for
  intentional self-harm was 193 per 100,000.
• The rate of hospitalizations at regional acute
  care hospitals was 71 per 100,000.

11
Estimated Burden of Disease in Canada, 2002
Mental Disorders
Cancer
Cardiovascular
Injury
Chronic Respiratory
Musculoskeletal
Diabetes
Nervous System
Digestive
Infectious
Congenital
Neonatal
Genitourinary
Respiratory Infections
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
12
The Vision

• Clients families first
• Access to services
• Balance
• Integration

13
The Service Model
14
Support and Treatment
15
Risk Reduction
16
Capacity Building
17
Albertas Mental Health System
18
Who Does What

• Alberta Health Wellness
• Alberta Mental Health Board
• Regional Health Authorities

19
AMHB Goals

• Leadership
• Improve Services
• Performance Based System

20
Leadership

• Provincial Mental Health Plan
• Research

21
Leadership (cont.)

• Advocacy and Privacy
• Wellness and Healthy Living

22
Improve Services

• Needs and Priorities
• Aboriginal Framework
• Forensic Psychiatry
• Telemental Health
• Funding Models

23
Measure Performance

• Gather Data
• Indicators
• Provide Information