Everyone will experience pain at some point in their lives, but for one in five Canadians, pain is a part of daily life. This week is National Pain Awareness Week in Canada. A time to raise awareness, show compassion towards people living with pain, and address stigma related to this chronic health condition. Since chronic pain remains largely invisible, those affected often feel stigmatized and isolated. As a result, they may not seek help. We know that when pain goes unmanaged, it takes a physical, emotional and social toll. Unmanaged pain increases risks of mental health and substance use issues and has been identified as a key contributor to the overdose crisis.
The prevalence of chronic pain is even higher for many, including women, military personnel and veterans, Indigenous Peoples, and those working in physically demanding jobs.
National Pain Awareness Week is also an opportunity to recognize and thank those in the pain community working hard to advance priorities identified by the Canadian Pain Task Force, supported by Health Canada. The Government of Canada a funded the establishment of Pain Canada, an initiative dedicated to coordinating national efforts and mobilizing resources for Canadians living with pain across Canada. Health Canada also supported the creation of the Power Over Pain Portal, which provides free, virtual resources to help Canadians living with pain better manage this complex health condition. Finally, in 2023, Canada became the first country to publish a national standard dedicated to the management of pain in our pediatric population.
Since injury and pain are common in the trades, workers often use alcohol or other substances to cope with pain. Pain relief is one way people get introduced to opioids. We recently re-launched an updated Ease the Burden campaign to offer free resources for men in the trades struggling with substance use and to share the message that "it takes strength to ask for help." The campaign includes information for employers and employees to help start these difficult conversations in the workplace. The goal is to create a space where men feel safe and supported to reach out for help if they are struggling with substance use and addiction, to reduce stigma around getting help, and to ultimately save lives.
These are all actions that will enhance the quality of life for people living with pain. It is through the collective efforts undertaken by different orders of government, members of the medical community, pain researchers and experts, and through meaningful engagement with people living with pain, that we can better prevent and manage pain.
By raising awareness, we can help ensure that people living with chronic pain receive the supports they need to live their lives to the fullest.
The Honourable Ya'ara Saks, P.C., M.P.
