CMHA Calling For Funding Increase Towards Mental Health and Addictions On Bell Let’s Talk Day

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) is calling on Ontario for a substantial, immediate and ongoing base funding increase for the mental health and addictions sector on this Bell Let’s Talk Day announced on Tuesday.

One in Four Ontarians have sought mental health support during the pandemic. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

Bell Let’s Talk Day — on Wednesday — is focused on committing to significant action to create positive change in mental health and addictions care according to a press release. Ontario’s CMHAs are calling for a base budget increase from the government to improve the community mental health and addictions sector.

“We need critical infrastructure investments to maintain the highest quality of care for the individuals we serve,” says Mark Graham, CMHA HKPR CEO. “But decades of underfunding and the increased need for service are having devastating impacts on how we can best support people in need.”

CMHA says every branch needs at least an eight per cent increase or roughly under $30 million total to meet the current and growing demand for mental health and addiction services.

The funding aids CMHAs in operating costs (that increase annually), provide more services and reduces wait times according to their press release.

“CMHAs reorganize resources and redeploy staff, but struggle to meet increased demand in service with our current budget allocations,” said Graham. “We simply can’t do more, or provide even the same level of service, when we aren’t resourced properly.”

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