In Our House
One in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime. Sixty per cent of people who live with mental illness or addiction do not seek treatment for fear of being stigmatized. Almost half of Canadian mental health service users reported they had been treated unfairly or had their rights denied during care because of their mental illness.
These statistics force us to ask: what can we do better? How can we transform the patient experience to ensure that those we serve have access to kind, compassionate care for the mind, body and spirit?
How can we ensure there is no stigma at St. Joes?
To that end, a hospital-wide Anti-Stigma Campaign was launched on November 25 and 26, making a bold promise that will place St. Joe’s as a leader in rejecting stigma.
Staff, physicians, learners and volunteers gathered at each campus signing the pledge to join the fight against stigma. At St. Joe’s, we commit to rethinking the impact of our actions and beliefs on those entrusted to our care. We pledge to treat everyone with kindness and respect. We will encourage and inspire others to reject the stigma of mental illness and addiction for generations to come. As a community of staff and professionals, we agree there is no room for stigma at St. Joe’s.
“We have a significant opportunity to be provincial leaders in this work – to break down the barriers that traditionally exist between mental and medical health care, to challenge the stigma our patients with mental illness or addiction have experienced here,” adds Dr. David Higgins, President. “So that in the future we can proudly proclaim that every person we see is treated with the same compassion, dignity and respect that are the hallmarks of our care.”
In October, St. Joe’s staff, physicians, volunteers and learners were invited to participate in the Opening Minds survey, created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
The results will set a benchmark for our efforts in challenging stigma. With over 2,000 surveys submitted, St. Joe’s represents the largest sample of results that the Mental Health Commission has received from a single organization – a clear indication that the St. Joe’s community is engaged in our mission to ensure there is no room for stigma.
In our house, everyone will feel at home.