title: Viewpoint: development of mental health services and psychiatry in Canada: lessons from the past: problems of the present; and the future.
abstract: The history of mental health services in Canada has been characterized by great frustration for those dedicated to the development of programs to meet the needs of the mentally ill. Acceptance of these services by the public at large has been limited and characterized by suspicion and lack of trust. In recent decades these two trends have contributed to the present situation in which it is difficult to recruit competent, well-motivated clinical staff for our more isolated mental hospitals and there is increasing emphasis on legalistic aspects of individual civil rights, compulsory treatment and related factors with little attention to the patient's entitlement to and need for adequate treatment. It is hypothesized that more understanding and progress may come from an insightful review of the historical development of Canadian Mental Health Services and the goals of organized Psychiatry in Canada than will result from developing a defensive and confrontational attitude towards current events in the field.
authors.affiliation: Queensway-Carleton Hospital, Ottawa.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000639:trends; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*