What is the fit between mental health, mental illness and Ontario's approach to chronic disease prevention and management?

Preamble As Ontario begins to reorient the health system to respond to the increasing prevalence and burden of chronic conditions, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario believes it is timely and essential to initiate dialogue on the fit between mental health, mental illness and Ontario’s approach to chronic disease prevention and management. [...] The chronic disease prevention and management (CDPM) framework, developed by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Promotion, has been broadly disseminated and is in the initial stages of implementation in this province. [...] Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario (CMHA Ontario) seeks to clarify the issues and explore opportunities for promoting mental health, supporting people with mental illnesses, and addressing the prevention and management of co-existing mental illnesses and chronic physical conditions. [...] Depression is the leading cause of disability as measured by years lost to disability and the fourth leading contributor to the global burden of disease.10 The lifetime prevalence of depression in Canada is 12.2 percent.11 In its research to support the development of the chronic disease framework, the MOHLTC calculated depression as one of the top 10 chronic conditions in terms of disease burden [...] CMHA’s Framework for Support31 As illustrated in the Community Resource Base pillar, services and supports for people with serious mental illnesses must be geared to supporting people to move from the role of patient to the role of citizen, and securing the basic elements of citizenship: a home, a job and friends.