Table 2 Mental Health policy items surveyed with policy influencers (PI) and the general public (GP) and valid percentages of overall support (‘somewhat support’ and ‘strongly support’ combined)
Item | Sample | Shorthand | Overall support (PI) | Overall support (GP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mandate curricula/training related to mental health promotion, anti-stigma awareness, and suicide prevention among healthcare professionals | GP/PI | Curricula for health care professionals | 96.3% | 96.3% |
Implement a school-based prevention programming that incorporates curricula on suicide and related issues (e.g., anxiety-prevention, resiliency-building, socio-emotional health) and expand workshops and peer support programs in schools | GP/PI | School-based prevention | 95.5% | 93.7% |
Provide programs for parents to develop parenting skills and early intervention programs for parents of preschool-aged children | GP/PI | Parenting skills programs | 96.9% | 94.2% |
Provide information to new immigrants and refugees upon arrival about common mental health problems that may occur with adjustment to Canada and available resources | GP/PI | New Canadian resources | 90.6% | 88.9% |
Fund housing services and income supports for individuals with mental health issues | GP/PI | Housing and income support | 93.1% | 89.9% |
Support First Nations, Métis, and Inuit control of mental health services | GP/PI | First Nations control of services | 86.3% | 81.7% |
Subsidize recovery and support programs in shelters to aid in breaking the cycle of family violence | PI | Family violence recovery and support | 96.6% | n/a |
Provide maternal mental health resources in all healthcare settings (i.e., trained staff, information for referrals) | PI | Maternal mental health resources | 98.3% | n/a |
Fund the development of virtual, technology-based applications to help people access tools, information, and services to address addiction and mental health issues | PI | Mental health technology | 94.2% | n/a |
Build or facilitate partnerships across organizations to develop community-service based hubs, which provide a single point of access for multiple social services at one location for families or at-risk population groups (e.g., LGBTQ2S + , newcomers, people with disabilities, veterans…) | PI | Community based hubs | 91.0% | n/a |
Legally protect student groups that support the safety and inclusion of marginalized students, including Gay/Straight Alliances as a means of reducing stigma and discrimination in the LGBTQ2S + population | PI | Protect 2SLGBTQ + students | 83.4% | n/a |
Develop and implement inclusive, culturally competent program delivery and training for individuals working in suicide prevention, frontline workers, volunteers, and health care practitioners | PI | Inclusive program delivery | 97.2% | n/a |
Promote help-seeking behaviours in men, seniors and other at-risk groups through phone help-lines, reduced individual cost, incentives, and reducing barriers to care | PI | At-risk help-seeking facilitation | 98.0% | n/a |
Fund media campaigns and targeted education and programming that emphasize the importance of psychological health and safety in the workplace | PI | Workplace psychological safety | 92.3% | n/a |
Develop public awareness campaigns against physical and sexual assault | PI | Assault public awareness | 97.5% | n/a |
Adapt best practices in suicide prevention used in training healthcare providers in collaboration with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit representatives | PI | Suicide prevention in First Nations | 94.1% | n/a |