Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council Appointed

On November 4, 2019, the provincial government appointed a Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council consisting of 23 members who will inform a new mental health and addiction strategy. The strategy will outline recommended actions to increase quality and access to a recovery-oriented mental health and addiction system, with a particular focus on treatment, recovery and justice programs. The advisory council will also address home care and primary care. The government will invest $140 million over four years to improve mental health and addiction services in Alberta with a plan to release a final report in summer 2020.

Council Members

Addiction:

  • 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

  • Insp. 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

Ex-Officio:

  • 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

For more information about the council and its members, please click here.

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