Petitions

Petition to the House of Commons of Canada
To address the urgent needs of canadians living with Functional neurological disorder (FND)

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:

Whereas:

1. Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a complex multi-network brain disorder that affects thousands of Canadian children and adults, yet it remains under-recognized and underfunded.
2. It is a common presentation in acute medical settings, neurology clinics, and epilepsy monitoring units.
3. FND manifests through various neurological symptoms, including limb weakness, paralysis, movement disorders, and seizures, without a known structural cause.
4. FND causes severe disability and impaired quality of life comparable to Parkinson’s, MS, and Epilepsy, yet awareness about FND remains low within clinical settings and the public.
5. Individuals with FND often face stigma, inadequate care and support.
6. Delays in diagnosis and lack of FND rehabilitation clinics lead to poor prognosis.

Therefore, your petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to:

1. Recognize FND as a significant public health issue requiring immediate action.
2. Implement awareness campaigns to educate healthcare professionals and the public about FND.
3. Promote the establishment of inpatient and outpatient specialized FND multidisciplinary clinics and support networks for individuals with FND.
4. Collaborate with advocacy organizations to ensure the voices of those affected are heard in healthcare planning.
5. Allocate funding for research into the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of FND.