Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement during Brain Awareness Week:
“This week marks the 15th anniversary of Brain Awareness Week, an international campaign to increase public awareness of mental health issues and the progress and benefits of brain research. With 1.1 million Canadians expected to develop some form of dementia within a generation, this campaign has never been more important.
The experts tell us that if nothing changes, by 2038 there will be a new case of dementia in Canada every two minutes. Besides the emotional and physical toll this will take on our population, it is expected that this surge will cost our health care system $872 billion over the next 30 years. Clearly, mental health is something we must address.
The recent Liberal roundtable on Alzheimer’s and dementia – which brought health and advocacy experts together with those who live with these diseases – was one way of doing this. At the time, I committed to a National Brain Strategy that would work with these partners to lessen the social and economic impacts of dementia.
On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary caucus, I encourage all Canadians to mark Brain Awareness Week with a commitment to doing everything they can to reduce the risk of developing dementia, including adopting a health lifestyle through diet and exercise, staying mentally and socially active, and protecting yourself from head injury.”
Liberal Public Health Critic Dr. Kirsty Duncan added:
“The brain is the most vital organ in our body. It keeps us alive and responsive to our environment. If the brain does not work properly, every aspect of life may be compromised.
Following on the Leader’s commitment, I recently tabled a motion in the House of Commons for a National Brain Strategy that calls on the government to adopt an evidence-based, multi-disciplinary, holistic approach to understanding and addressing brain conditions, with integrated strategies to help those with brain conditions live to their full potential.
It would, among other things, commit the government to investing in programs and services that would improve the quality of life for people – and their caregivers – suffering from brain disease, disorder or injury, while also investing in better education, research and treatment.
With one in three – or 10 million – Canadians affected by a neurological or psychiatric disorder or injury at some point in their lives, Brain Awareness Week is a good opportunity for everyone to do their part to bring attention to this devastating condition.”
