OTTAWA, May 7, 2013 – While Canadians mark Mental Health Week, the government’s Bill C-54, the
Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act, is moving forward with fundamental flaws that will set back
progress made in understanding mental health and mental illness, an alliance of national mental health
organizations warned today.
“We understand the need to protect Canadians from individuals who commit violent crimes,” said Chris
Summerville, Alliance Facilitator and CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada at a news conference
on Parliament Hill. “However, this bill, as it is currently written, will not do this. What this bill has done
is tell Canadians that they should be afraid of people with a mental illness.”
Summerville added the vast majority of people with a mental illness will never commit any type of
crime, let alone a serious one, and that recidivism rates of individuals found not criminally responsible
on account of a mental disorder are much lower than rates among individuals found guilty of a crime.
“The mental health community in Canada has made important strides in reducing the stigma associated
with mental illness. We are concerned that in its present form, Bill C-54 will negatively impact the lives
of people found Not Criminally Responsible on account of a Mental Disorder and unjustifiably increase
the stigma towards people with mental illness,” said Peter Coleridge, National CEO, Canadian Mental
Health Association. “Too many elements of the bill are simply not evidence based and will not result in
the changes that Canadians and victims would like to see from such a bill. This issue is much too
important to rush.”
“The mental health community was not part of the creation of Bill C-54,” said Dr. Paul Fedoroff, Member
Board of Directors, Canadian Psychiatric Association and President, Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and
the Law. “Today, during Mental Health Week, we publicly offer not only to work with the government in
creating an effective bill, but to also work with victims groups. We are confident that Canadians expect
their government to work with the mental health community in crafting a bill that effectively and fairly
deals with people with mental disorders in a way that serves everyone’s interests.”
The government’s Bill C-54 proposes amendments to the Criminal Code dealing with restrictions for
people found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder. Given the significance of
passing such changes, Canada’s mental health community has come together to form a working alliance
in an effort to strengthen their voice on this critical matter, which is of vital importance to the mental
health community and understanding mental illness. The alliance includes:
. National Network for Mental Health
. Canadian Mental Health Association
. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
. Canadian Psychiatric Association
. Canadian Psychological Association
. Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
. Canadian Association of Social Workers
. Schizophrenia Society of Canada
(representing all Schizophrenia Societies
across Canada)
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