Commissioner's update for offenders and their families: May 5, 2025
On May 5, we commemorate Red Dress Day, also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. This is a day of action to raise awareness of the ongoing issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people in Canada. Today, we reflect, grieve, and honor the lives lost as we continue our work together to end this ongoing national tragedy.
May 5 to 11 is Canadian Mental Health Week. This event encourages us to talk about mental health and to learn about the positive effects that mental health programs and supports can have in our lives. When it comes to your mental health, CSC has a variety of healthcare professionals who can provide services and support. Do not hesitate to reach out for help.
- If you have general questions about your mental health, fill out an Inmate’s Request form.
- If your situation is urgent, tell any staff member that you need the assistance of a health professional.
I want to remind you that when it comes to your mental health you are not alone.
We are actively developing a strategy for offenders serving life sentences. This initiative aims to ensure we provide structured and evolving support, while taking individual realities into consideration.
CSC is currently consulting offenders serving life sentences to gather views. If this concerns you, we want to hear from you. Whether you are incarcerated, regardless of the level of security, or have been released into the community, your voice is crucial to understand your specific challenges, issues and needs.
I encourage you to ask your case management team or inmate committee for a copy of the questionnaire. Your participation will allow us to provide you with more suitable and effective support. This initiative has the potential to improve the management of life sentences. You have until June 2 to fill out the questionnaire.
“Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.” - Marya Hornbacher