Myke Atkinson

Yes

Myke recognised the importance of having productive programmes to deal with the parallel issues of mental health, homelessness, and poverty. In this context, he recognises the clear importance of institutions such as Alpha House. He expressed a need for well-trained and coordinated personnel to deal with mental health issues and avoid the multiple and simultaneous involvement of police, EMS and fire services, which now often happens. He focused primarily on the idea of seeing mental health support as something which should be incorporated into first response triaging under the purview of the city.

Heather McRae

Uncertain

Resources are needed from all three levels of government

Terry Wong

Yes

Focus on collaboration with federal and provincial government, local community groups and neighbourhood communities to establish an understanding of the need for proactive, preventive community-based mental health supports; not a one-size-fits-all approach; need to provide a culturally sensitive (i.e. religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, indigenous, etc.) approach and respect people for who they are and what they are capable of.

Anthony Ascue: Yes - One of our key responsibilities of being in city council is to keep our citizens safe. Mental health is a huge issue, and has been plaguing the entire world for a long time. We need to make sure we have the budget to help combat mental health issues. This is everything from PTSD, trauma, substance abuse, etc. This will not only help save lives, but it will also help with our homeless situation. We should have programs ready to handle the people who are in need, and we need to have social workers able to promote and encourage people in need to seek out and use our programs.

David Barrett: Yes - On support for community-based, culturally appropriate, preventative Mental Health supports, I would love to chat more with your team about this topic to better understand what needs the CACG is hoping for the city addresses. - Work with the University of Calgary and experts to seek their views to form an understanding and decisions on mental health strategy.

Greg Amoruso: Yes - When it comes to mental health I will fight for more education and awareness. I have spent the last 4 years making the city council aware of the seriousness and the crises of mental illness, especially on our streets, and nothing has been done, even though they made promises when they were running in their last election. I will keep my promise to make mental illness a top priority and have proper programs in place.