By Charles Lefebvre

Addictions and Mental Health

Province announces Mental Health and Addictions Panel

Nov 4, 2019 | 4:15 PM

EDMONTON, AB — The province has announced the members of its Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council.

Jason Luan, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, made the announcement Monday morning in Calgary.

The members of the panel will develop a strategy and actions to increase quality and access to “a recovery-oriented mental health and addiction system,” a news release from the province says. The panel is also planning to focus on treatment, recovery and justice programs.

“Our government is committed to a recovery-oriented system of care that is fair, firm and compassionate,” Luan said in a statement. “We want to eliminate barriers to recovery and give hope to people facing mental health and addiction challenges.”

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The panel is being co-chaired by Pat Nixon, the founder of the Mustard Seed, along with Laureen MacNeil, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Calgary Region.

A full list of panel members is below, and includes representatives from Edmonton and Calgary’s police service, members of the Blood Tribe Police Service, Alberta Health Services, and community advocates.

It does not include representatives from harm reduction agencies.

The panel is expected to deliver a report by Summer 2020.

According to the provincial budget, the Alberta government is investing $140 million dollars towards addictions and mental health supports.

Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council

The full list of council members, according to the Alberta government

• Addictions co-chair: Pat Nixon, founder, Mustard Seed
• Stacey Petersen, executive director, Fresh Start Recovery Centre
• Jacen Abrey, Blood Tribe Fire and EMS director, and councillor for Town of Coaldale
• Andy Crooks, lawyer/lived experience
• Nick Mitchell, senior medical director, AHS
• Rob Davidson, Calgary Police Service
• Benny Xu, traditional Chinese medicine doctor
• Bruce Edgelow, founder and managing partner, Edgemark Capital/lived experience
• Brad Cardinal, executive director, Poundmakers Lodge
• Ray Baker, addiction medicine expert
• Mental health co-chair: Laureen MacNeil, executive director, Canadian Mental Health Association – Calgary Region
• Police Chief Dale McFee, Edmonton Police Service
• Xin-Min Li, professor and chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta
• Allison Bichel, senior provincial director, AHS
• Curtis Stange, president and CEO, ATB Financial
• Karen Gosbee, mental health advocate
• Sally Zhao, CEO, the Immigrant Education Society
• Whitney Issik, MLA, Calgary-Glenmore
• Deena Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health
• John Cabral, ADM, mental health and addiction
• Sherri Wilson, ADM, public health and compliance/opioid crisis
• Bill Sweeney, ADM, public safety
• Peter MacKinnon, ADM, population, public and Indigenous health