After a back injury left musician Brenley MacEachern unable to sit, lie down or stand upright without pain, she worked with a physiotherapist to form a treatment plan and then with a psychotherapist to form a plan to keep her on track with the physical exercises.
The bills for her care surprised MacEachern, who is a singer, songwriter and guitarist for the Juno-nominated band Madison Violet. She paid sales tax on the bill for psychotherapy and none on physiotherapy.
In January, MacEachern stepped up to endorse a campaign to remove the sales tax from psychotherapy — a health occupation that involves talking through mental health issues to identify and change problematic thoughts and behaviours.
“Other mental health services, like psychologists or social workers, they don't have to charge this tax,” said Eachern in an Instagram video. “We need equal access to all kinds of mental health services.”
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