News & Press Releases

Vancouver British Columbia (November 02, 2009)

MPA Society supports the Correctional Investigator’s recommendations, released in the 2008/09 Annual Report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI), to improve the treatment of mentally ill offenders in federal correctional facilities. The recommendations for improving the mental health care capacity to a recognized national standard are critical and could also set a benchmark leading to consistent standards for provincial correctional facilities.

Providing proper and appropriate mental health care in correctional facilities is in the interest of the public, the individual serving a prison sentence and the correctional staff. When there are proper treatment options and continuity of these efforts after release, the likelihood of a person reoffending is greatly reduced.

“MPA Society supports the call for improved communication between federal and provincial correctional systems and with community-based mental health organizations, so that a continuity of services can be assured upon the release of people incarcerated. Ensuring that no one falls between the cracks of the various systems would greatly reduce recidivism,“ says David MacIntyre, Executive Director of the MPA Society.

More mental health professionals are needed in both the federal and provincial correctional systems and the services between those systems need to be better coordinated for continuity of care. By increasing the number of mental health professionals and the provision of services, the government is encouraged to consider inviting provincial health authorities to contract services to experienced community-based organizations. This allows for standards to be set and enforced as part of the service agreement, promotes development of best practices in mental health care, fosters the continuity of services from institution to community and enhances communication between partners.

The MPA Society is an award-winning non-profit service agency that has supported individuals living with severe and persistent mental health and addictions issues for over 38 years in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver, B.C. The Mission of the society is to inspire hope and facilitate recovery for those having a mental illness.