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COALITION FOR APPROPRIATE CARE AND TREATMENT  (CFACT)

New Report Evaluating Recovery Movement Now Available Here

Other News Below

ABOUT CFACT:

The organization was originally founded in the early 2000's by the late Tony Cerenzia. Tony was the former president of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada.  The organization is dedicated to improving the treatment and care provided to individuals who suffer from serious mental illnesses. We believe that there are major deficits present in the mental health care system today. Our goal is to raise public awareness and assertively lobby local health administrators, government and professional bodies.

We do have a dedicated group of volunteers but we can always use more help. Our goal is to bring to the attention of the public problems with the current system for treating those with schizophrenia and to lobby for improvements.

If you wish to help, please contact us.  Contact information is below or e-mail us if you would like to be put on out e-mail list.

 

OUR VISION

An optimal mental health system will provide:

  1. timely access to appropriate psychiatric care and treatment (to avoid deterioration and to improve prognosis) along with continuity of care to promote continued stability and the best quality of life;

  2.  open access in public formularies to psychiatric medications;

  3. appropriate services to support individuals with a serious mental illness in recovering a satisfying and healthy quality of life to their fullest potential;

  4. disability support programs that ensure sufficient income for a satisfying and healthy quality of life, and that do not penalize individuals who attempt to return to the workforce or to pursue additional education;

  5. public education on the neurobiomedical basis and the recognition of early symptoms of serious mental illnesses, including formal education programs in secondary schools and post-secondary colleges and universities;

  6. mandatory education and certification requirements for mental health professionals and peer support workers that measure competency in understanding the neurobiological basis of serious mental illnesses, and that include and value the expertise of family caregivers;

  7.  appropriate mental health laws to provide access to treatment for those whose illness  precludes them from accepting treatment voluntarily
  8. involve family caregivers in the design, implementation, and evaluation of services

OUR MISSION

  • to challenge an increasing reliance among mental health policy makers on anti-science/anti-psychiatry approaches for understanding and treating serious mental illnesses.

OUR MANDATE

  • to advocate for improved treatment and services for our family members and all individuals living with serious mental illnesses.

OUR KEY MESSAGES

  • Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychotic disorders are neurobiological brain diseases.

  • Medications are the foundation of treatment.

 

For further information e-mail: chair AT cfact.ca

Recordings and Slides from the Public Presentation on JULY 12, 2012, at St Michael's Hospital in Toronto By Susan Inman And Dr. Richard O'reilly  Are Available

READ THE LATEST LETTER TO THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION

To see our concerns with the Mental Health Commission of Canada Draft Mental Health Policy for Canada SEE OUR PREVIOUS LETTERS AND BACKGROUND

We are a non-profit organization working to ensure the appropriate treatment for the seriously mentally ill (SMI). Continued deinstitutionalization has placed a significant proportion of the SMI population in jeopardy. Only when services are designed and provided on the basis of the needs of individuals, will we achieve our goal. We do not accept donation from the pharmaceutical industry