At the collective level, a critical benchmark of the mental heath literacy of Canadian society would be the development and implementation of a multi-faceted national strategy to improve knowledge, understanding and capacity to act to prevent and manage mental disorders. This would include partnership initiatives and programs that engage government and non-governmental organizations, consumers, family members, researchers and others working in the areas of health and mental health. A national strategy would operate across multiple domains simultaneously, with programs designed to:

• increase community awareness of mental disorders and implement prevention and early intervention strategies with families, schools and workplaces
• support active consumer participation, in research, public education and advocacy
• develop new models of primary care, including collaborative care and primary care physician training
• advocate for progressive policies and adequate funding for research and for prevention, treatment and supportive services.

NEXT STEPS

Partner Engagement

CAMIMH’S research relating to MHL reinforces the fact that the social, health and economic burden of mental illness is a major public health problem for Canadian consumers and our society as a whole. CAMIMH further recognizes that collaborative and sustained strategies and national courses of action are necessary to understand mental health literacy in this country and to formulate public policies and programs which challenge perceptions of mental illness, increase knowledge of mental health issues and provide support to Canadians in need. These investigations will serve as a model and foundation for cross-sector collaboration and relationship building in understanding and ultimately enhancing mental healthy literacy in Canada.

The next stage of this project will be to share project findings with prospective partners across sectors, including existing health prevention/promotion coalitions and alliances, the media, youth, seniors, health care providers, the private sector, other NGOs. This consultation process will focus on the following questions:

• What do the findings on mental health literacy mean to them and their sector?
• What are the potential benefits of developing an integrated approach to enhancing mental health literacy in terms of chronic disease prevention and health promotion?
• What are the myths and barriers related to working collaboratively on the issue of mental health literacy?
• What are the solutions and what could each sector contribute in terms knowledge and/or resources to implement an integrated plan to enhance mental health literacy in Canada over the next three to five years?