Addiction and mental health services engagement

Gathered input to establish safety and consumer protection standards for addiction and mental health services and treatment facilities.

Overview

Alberta is working to improve the addiction and mental health system. About 20% of people will experience an addiction or mental health issue in their lifetime. When seeking treatment, it's important they receive safe, quality care and consumer protections.

Albertans shared their experiences and ideas on how to improve our addiction and mental health system. Their feedback is reflected in the report: Valuing Mental Health: Next Steps.

One of the key actions in the report is to develop regulations and standards for service providers and treatment facilities.

Currently, there is limited regulation of addiction and mental health services or treatment facilities outside of those provided through Alberta Health Services. This means there is no oversight on:

• who can open residential addiction treatment centres
• what services are provided or if they’re based on science or evidence
• how much patients are charged

Stronger safeguards and consumer protections will help protect people from physical, mental and financial harm when receiving treatment and services.

Engagement

Albertans were invited to complete a survey to provide input on ways to better protect people seeking addiction and mental health services, such as:

• potential core standards to ensure a minimum and consistent level of quality, care and safety in addiction and mental health facilities
• create standards so important fee and service information is available upfront so people can make informed decisions before signing anything
• possible minimum standards for professionals working in the mental health and addictions field

The survey closed Sept. 14, 2018. Thank you for your input.

Outcomes

Input received will help inform potential legislation coming later this fall to help establish safety, quality and consumer protection standards for addiction and mental health facilities, services and providers.

Contact

For questions about the survey, please email AlbertaValuingMentalHealth@gov.ab.ca.