View From the Legislature

I was honoured to be in the chapel at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre last Friday, to sign a proclamation announcing that October 17th – 23rd be named Spiritual Health Care week in Manitoba. Joining me for the proclamation signing was Southern Health-Santé Sud CEO Kathy McPhail, Hanover Reeve Stan Toews, Bethesda Place Chaplin Larry Hirst, and Member of Parliament for Provencher Ted Falk.

Since 2002, Spiritual Health Care week in Manitoba has been our opportunity to applaud the dedicated and qualified service of spiritual health care practitioners and facilities across our province, as well as to recognize the value of spiritual health care as part of “whole person” care. The importance of spiritual well-being and sense of meaning, purpose and connection that feeds a positive attitude toward oneself and one’s life, has always been an important resource for healthy living and resilience. The theme for this year’s Spiritual Health Care awareness week is “The right to believe: The meaning and practise of spiritual and religious care.” Research consistently shows that positive religious involvement and positive spiritual understanding are linked to better health outcomes, coping skills, longer life expectancy, lower measured depression and anxiety, and substantially reduced risk for substance abuse and suicide. Growing evidence indicates that addressing spiritual needs enhances patient satisfaction and can enhance patient flow. Given the current cost of health care, spiritual health care is a cost effective way to improve the health and wellness of Manitobans, as well as reduces strain on the system.

However spiritual health care is so much broader than religious care. When individuals are going through their own difficult times, they rely very much on those who are involved with a multifaith, disciplinary setting. They rely on them for comfort and support, and that is an important part of our life journey and our health care journey. I can tell you as the Minister of Health, for six months now there have been many difficult discussions that take place around health care and faith. I want to make those decisions in partnership with those in the faith based community. Over these last months, I have had many opportunities now to meet with representatives from faith based communities, many of whom work within the health care system, and I want to hear their voice. We as a province have to recognize that we have to be respectful to our multifaith communities who are working hard within the health care system. I am very thankful that they are a part of our health care system and am glad our government is not being shy about recognizing and celebrating this fact.