opinion

September is International Pain Awareness Month, a time dedicated to improving our understanding of chronic pain, an often invisible illness that affects one in five people in Canada.

September 25, 2023 | Ottawa, ON | Health Canada

September is International Pain Awareness Month, a time dedicated to improving our understanding of chronic pain, an often invisible condition that affects one in five people in Canada. This affects about eight million Canadians, from children to seniors, whose quality of life can be seriously compromised due to pain for months or even years. So it could be your family, your friends or your neighbours who are suffering in silence.

Chronic pain can have a significant impact on people’s mental and physical health. It can force them to give up activities that bring them joy, which can leave them feeling isolated and alone. If the pain is left untreated, it can also lead people to resort to harmful methods of coping with pain, such as using dangerous substances.

There is a need to improve the capacity of our health care system to better understand, prevent and treat chronic pain. That is why the Government of Canada established the Canadian Pain Task Force (CPTF) in 2019. In March 2021, the CDWG released its final report, “An Action Plan for Pain in Canada,” which aims to identify priority actions to ensure chronic pain is understood and effectively treated in Canada. We also support Pain Canadaa project that coordinates national efforts and mobilizes resources for Canadians living with pain.

We work to provide healthcare providers and people living with pain with the resources and support they need to manage this complex condition. This includes collaborating with people living with pain, subject matter experts and other key partners to better support people living with chronic pain.

Help us reduce the impact of chronic pain by learning more about it and reaching out to people you know who are struggling with this condition. Through education, we can help people with chronic pain get the support they need to manage their pain and live fulfilling lives.

The Honorable Ya’ara Saks, PC, MP

contacts

Alex Fernandes
Press Officer and Senior Communications Consultant
Office of the Honorable Ya’ara Saks
Minister for Mental Health and Addiction and Deputy Minister for Health
613-290-0318

Media relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca