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It seems that the message that mental health is a serious and pervasive issue across the country is beginning to be heard, and that is good news. It’s hard to address a problem you don’t recognize. We’ve heard the statistics that one in five in Ontario will experience a mental health issue in any given year, and the growing awareness about mental health is spurring a growing demand to address these challenges.
Community-based mental health and addiction agencies say they’ve been chronically underfunded compared to other parts of the health care system. They have stretched their resources as far as they can, doing more with less, and are now cutting services in the community, facing longer client wait-lists, cutting programs, staff and leaving vacancies unfilled. They have numbers to back up their claims: while the demand for mental health support grows with a broader understanding of the issues, their relative funding in the health care budget is shrinking. In 1979, mental health care and addictions consumed 11.3% of Ontario’s health care budget, but these days it represents only 6.5%.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R.) welcomes today’s (March 21) announcement by Premier Kathleen Wynne, committing a $2.1-billion investment in mental health and addictions care over four years (https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2018/03/ontario-making-historic-investment-in-mental-health-care.html). The funding is intended to improve care, reduce waitlists and increase access across the province.
Last month, the Wynne government announced a $2.1-billion investment over four years in the mental health and addictions sector, which was widely applauded by mental health care professionals. Some of the funding is directed towards broadening the pathways to mental health support, making it easier to navigate the mental health system. Plans include increased services and improved access to services across all age brackets and access to structured support for those suffering from mild to moderate anxiety or depression closer to home in a doctor’s office or a community organization.
As the provincial election approaches, they are reaching out to galvanize the public behind their pleas for continued support. They are asking all Ontarians who have been touched by mental health or addictions issues to make their voice heard by provincial candidates who are poised to take positions of influence in the next provincial government, wanting to make mental health care funding part of the public conversation for this election. They say it’s time to erase the difference and fund mental health and addictions care at the same level as physical health care.
Now that they have achieved a widespread acceptance about the urgent need for quality mental health and addictions services, they feel momentum for their case is building. They are asking the province to show them the money, and have begun to rally support for their cause with a petition asking the province to back them up with increased funding so they can curb the flow of people falling through the cracks. The public is invited to show their support for continued investment in mental health and addictions care by signing the petition online at www.erasethedifference.ca and spreading the word through social media using the hashtag #erasethedifference. KG
