On February 10, Roberta Graham, President Elect of the Registry of Marriage and Family Therapists in Canada  represented  your profession in Ottawa at a Stakeholders Consultation hosted by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. 
    The Consultation was designed to gather feedback on the draft document 'Toward Recovery and Well-Being: A Framework for a Mental Health Strategy for Canada'.   "This document presents a draft framework for developing a comprehensive mental health strategy for Canada. The eight goals it sets out provide a vision for WHAT a transformed mental health system should look like – one that can both foster recovery for people living with mental health problems and illnesses, and promote the mental health and well-being of all Canadians."  (pg. 3).
   The consultation process represents a significant opportunity for Marriage and Family Therapists to lend their expertise, experience and voices to the Mental Health Commission.  Consultations with stakeholders will continue across Canada with the goal to release the final document in the spring.  The focus will then shift to identifying the HOW of implementing the goals.
    It is critical that Marriage and Family Therapists across Canada lend their voices to this process, as quickly as possible. The Board of the Canadian Registry is asking that you: 

    1. Download the document and read it. (It’s a pretty quick read and will supplement your knowledge about federal goals for Canadian mental health systems.)
 http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/SiteCollection/documents/Key_/documents/en/2009/Mental_Health_ENG.pdf 

    
    2.  Go back to the website: www.mentalhealthcommission.ca    On the welcome page click to join the e-consultations on the strategy.  Please register as a member of the public.
   
    3.  Your response will require less time than an average session.   Doing so will likely make your next session with an individual, couple or family struggling with mental illness, better than average.  
   
    4. The deadline for participation is March 31, 2009.    The public deserves your professional input.  The Registry of Marriage and Family Therapists in Canada which represents your professional interests needs your support.    As a Marriage and Family Therapist you are invited to the table.  Please join us in this important dialogue.   
   
    Hope you can make it to Ottawa in the Spring for the National Conference.

Sincerely,
Roberta Graham
Pres. Elect 
Registry of MFTs in Canada, Inc