improve the lives of all Ontarians
Asking for help isn’t easy, receiving help should be. Long-term investments which support the growth and expansion of community MHA services, and the workforce responsible for the delivery of those services, are the best way to meet the increasing needs of Ontario’s diverse and growing communities.
Last year, an additional 70,000 Ontarians sought support for their MHA challenges. Each of these Ontarians was met by a compassionate and dedicated member of our workforce, ready to support them through their unique recovery journey. While service providers are efficient with the limited resources they have, budget constraints and increasing demands have made the provision of high-quality care more difficult.
New investments can help Ontario tackle rising waitlists, reduce strain on municipal and emergency services, and prevent further erosion of the MHA workforce – all of which are leading to worsening mental and substance use health outcomes for Ontarians.
2025 Pre-Budget Recommendations
Investments in the community MHA sector are the best way to help transform Ontario from a province in crisis to a province of care.
In 2022, our sector received a 5% base funding increase – the first such increase for our sector in over a decade. The following year, community MHA agencies provided care to 13.6% more Ontarians.
Better health and wellness outcomes are possible. We have proven solutions. But we cannot achieve these outcomes without additional investment in our sector. Through Budget 2025, we have an opportunity to decrease waitlists, address widening wage gaps in our workforce, create new supportive housing, and increase access to lifechanging community MHA care.
To learn more about AMHO’s plan, you can download our 2025 pre-budget submission here.
