According to the Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health:
- 1 in 3 Canadians (about 9.1 million people) will be affected by a mental illness during their lifetime
- Close to 5.5 million Canadians received health services for a mental illness in 2016-2017. That’s more than the population of British Columbia.
- 39% of Ontario high-school students indicate a moderate-to-serious level of psychological distress. A further 17% indicate a serious level of psychological distress.
- The disease burden of mental illness and substance use in Ontario is 1.5 times higher than all cancers put together and more than 7 times that of all infectious diseases. This includes years lived with less than full function and years lost to early death
- It is estimated that 67,000 deaths per year are attributable to substance use in Canada. This includes:
- over 47,000 deaths attributable to tobacco, and
- nearly 15,000 deaths attributable to alcohol.
- There were an estimated 14,700 opioid-related deaths in Canada between January 2016 and September 2019.
Mental Health workers spend the majority of their time assisting patients that suffer from mental health issues. This can include alcoholism and drug addiction, as well as other behavioural problems. CAMH defines the terms “mental illness” and “addiction” as “a wide range of disorders that affect mood, thinking and behaviour”. Among examples, it lists depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia, as well as substance use disorders and problem gambling.
The technicians provide support under the treatment plans developed by the medical professionals that help people cope with these issues.
The Labor Statistics reported that the overall employment growth for substance abuse, behavioural disorder and mental health counsellors is expected to be 25% from 2019-2029. This rate is much faster than average. As a result of all this growth, the job outlook is expected to be favourable, due to some positions will become available because of retirements.
The employment outlook in Ontario for the 2022-2024 period will be very good for mental health counsellors.
The professionals who work with those living with mental health and addictions receive training at offerings such as CLI College’s Mental Health and Addiction Diploma program. Approved by the PCC, this 48-week program uses evidence-based knowledge to teach learners to screen, assess, and respond to people with mental health and substance-use issues from diverse cultural and community perspectives. It prepares students for a wide range of careers. Here’s a look at the ways in which graduates can put their learning to use in the real world.
ADDICTIONS COUNSELLOR
These professionals usually work in hospitals, overnight shelters, residential treatment centres and group homes. In these places, they work with clients who may have addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, or tobacco.
WITHDRAWAL MANAGEMENT COUNSELLOR
According to one acute care provider, helping people manage their withdrawal from substance use is key to their success. Many withdrawal management counsellors work in facilities where people are monitored to ensure they safely get a substance “out of their system.
HARM REDUCTION WORKER
According to The Street Health (a non-profit organization which is working to improve the health and well-being of homeless people in Toronto), harm reduction refers to policies, programs and practices that aim to reduce the negative health, social and economic consequences resulting from the use of legal and illegal drugs, without necessarily reducing drug use. That’s because many drug-related problems and addictions are not the results of the drugs themselves but rather consequences of “the unregulated manufacture and trade of drugs and the enduring commitment to failed policies and ineffective and unfairly-applied laws.”
The commonly used word “addict” is fraught with negative connotations, and addiction and mental health workers help to humanize the people who have fallen victim to mental health issues, socioeconomic status or a range of other reasons that may have led to addiction.
https://health-infobase.canada.ca/datalab/mental-illness-blog.html