VICTORIA, BC, Aug. 7, 2024
/CNW/ - The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) commends
the advocacy efforts of the Canadian Mental Health Association
(CMHA) to include mental health in the Canada Health Act. With the
demand for mental health services increasing, BC residents need
access to affordable, high-quality clinical
counselling/psychotherapy services in a timely fashion.
BCACC CEO, Michael Radano says
"The BCACC wholeheartedly supports the CMHA's push for mental
health to be included in the Canada Health Act. This could
result in additional federally funded mental health services and
the eventual coverage of mental health services under the
Province's Medical Services Plan, all of which would go a long
way towards improving the mental health and well-being of British
Columbians."
For 38 years, BCACC has worked to improve public access to
clinical counselling and psychotherapy services in BC. The
association has successfully integrated the Registered Clinical
Counsellor (RCC) designation into many extended health benefit
plans, providing access to 8,000 master's-level RCCs across the
province. BCACC's "Find a Counsellor" tool facilitates over 100,000
clinician referrals annually, helping the public find RCCs who
offer services in various languages, from diverse lived
experiences, and who are registered with third-party providers.
Additionally, BCACC collaborates with other health associations to
offer alternative support for clients needing immediate connection
to mental health assistance and to educate health practitioners on
trauma-informed care. Even with BCACC's efforts to make
counselling more accessible for British Columbians, the addition of
psychotherapy services to the BC Medical Services Plan would ensure
better access to mental health services. The addition of
mental health to the Canada Health Act is an important first step
towards making this happen.
BCACC encourages the Canadian Government to consider the CMHA's
proposal to include mental health in the Canada Health Act.
This addition would help to support the primary objective of
Canadian health care policy, which is "to protect, promote and
restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of
Canada and to facilitate
reasonable access to health services without financial or other
barriers."
BCACC: The BC Association of Clinical
Counsellors (BCACC) is a not-for-profit provincial professional
association founded in 1988 with more than 8000 members. BCACC
advocates for the clinical counselling/psychotherapy profession and
public access to mental health services. Its 7200 Registered
Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) are held to the highest standards of
practice and a strict code of ethics in service and protection of
the public which includes a robust complaint, inquiry, and
disciplinary process. https://bcacc.ca
SOURCE BC Association of Clinical Counsellors