Addictions and mental health are connected

By Mike Stimpson  Local Journalism Initiative Reporter FORT FRANCES -Any discussion on mental health needs to include addictions, a regional Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) administrator said on Bell Let’s Talk Day. “We know that now we can’t separate addictions from mental health,” Charlene Strain, chief executive officer of the CMHA’s Fort Frances branch, said in an interview Wednesday. “Addiction is within the DSM-5 (reference book on mental disorders), so it’s a diagnosable mental health condition.” People with mental health issues are more likely than the general population to have substance use issues, according to the CMHA. Strain said there has been great progress in “reducing stigma in regards to mental health issues” but “we have a long way to go to reduce stigma in regards to substance use and…

This content is for Yearly Subscription, Yearly Subscription – Corporate, Print Subscription Only, and Canada Print and Online members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here

Add Your Voice

Is there more to this story? We'd like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Contribute your voice on our contribute page.