Petition: Alleviate Mental Health in New Brunswick By Giving Providers More Diagnostic Tools & Paying for Mental Health Care

Scroll to the bottom to press “Submit”. Please note that while we cannot physically stop non-residents from signing this petition, we ask that only those living in New Brunswick, Canada, or who are from here to sign.

Petition:

We, the undersigned residents of New Brunswick, wish to bring to your attention a matter of significant importance regarding mental health care in our province. Specifically, we advocate for Licensed Counselling Therapists (LCTs) to be granted the authority to diagnose mental illness and the inclusion of therapy services from Licensed Counselling Therapists in government-funded health programs.

Licensed Counselling Therapists (LCTs) play a crucial role in the mental health landscape of New Brunswick. They are highly trained professionals who possess the necessary expertise to assess and treat a wide range of mental health issues. Despite their extensive training and competence, LCTs currently lack the legal authority to diagnose mental illnesses. This limitation not only undermines their ability to provide comprehensive care but also creates unnecessary barriers for individuals seeking timely and effective treatment.

Granting LCTs the authority to diagnose mental illness would align with current trends in mental health care delivery, which emphasize the importance of early intervention and holistic treatment approaches. It would also help alleviate the burden on other mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists and psychologists, thereby reducing wait times and improving overall access to care for residents of New Brunswick.

Furthermore, we strongly advocate for the New Brunswick government to cover therapy services provided by Licensed Counselling Therapists under government-funded health programs. This would ensure that all residents, regardless of their financial situation, have access to high-quality mental health care. Investing in mental health services provided by LCTs would not only improve individual well-being but also contribute to the overall health and productivity of our community.

This approach has been successfully implemented in other jurisdictions, demonstrating its feasibility and benefits. It would complement existing public mental health services by expanding options for treatment and ensuring that individuals receive the care they need in a timely manner.

In conclusion, we believe that granting Licensed Counselling Therapists the authority to diagnose mental illness and including therapy services from LCTs in government-funded health programs are critical steps towards improving mental health care in New Brunswick. These measures would enhance access to timely and effective treatment, reduce healthcare costs in the long term, and ultimately improve the well-being of our community.

We respectfully urge the Government of New Brunswick to consider these proposals and take decisive action to support the mental health needs of all residents.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Petition Signers

Signing this petition emails the following to government of NB members:

Blaine Higgs, Sherry Wilson, Jill Green, Kathy Bockus, and Susan Holt.
If you would like to email them on your own, you can do so at these addresses: Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca, Sherry.Wilson@gnb.ca, Jill.Green@gnb.ca, Kathy.Bockus@gnb.ca, Susan.Holt@gnb.ca

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