FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6th 2025, Toronto, ON – As Ontario marks Mental Health Week, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) warns that community-based mental health and addictions services are at a tipping point — calling for urgent investment in the 2025 Ontario Budget to protect access to care across the province.
“Hiring freezes across the sector are leaving critical frontline positions vacant throughout Ontario,” said Jennifer Holmes Weier, CEO of AMHO. “Without immediate support, workforce turnover and vacancy rates will continue to climb, pushing the care people need further out of reach.”
Representing over 150 community organizations across Ontario, AMHO is urging the provincial government to commit to a 7% base funding increase for community mental health and addictions service providers in 2025/26, followed by two years of 4% increases. Without this, mental health and addictions organizations say they will be forced to reduce staff and services, leading to extended wait times, and worsening health outcomes for communities across the province.
Pressure on community mental health and addictions providers is mounting:
- Over one million Ontarians experience a mental health or addiction challenge each year
- The sector has only received one base funding increase over the past ten years, despite skyrocketing demand for programs and services
- Experienced community mental health and addictions staff can earn up to 50% less than their peers working similar roles in education and acute care
When people cannot access care in their communities, they’re often left with no choice but to turn to Ontario’s overcrowded emergency rooms — spaces built for urgent crises, not ongoing support.
“Our overcrowded health care system cannot afford this increased pressure, and neither can our most vulnerable,” said Holmes Weier. “This Mental Health Week, AMHO and our members call on the province to make real investments in this sector in the 2025 Ontario Budget. Ontario needs change, and we need it now.”
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Read AMHO’s 2025 Pre-Budget Submission, From Crisis to Care: AMHO Pre-Budget Submission 2025
About Addictions and Mental Health Ontario:
Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) represents over 150 organizations that provide front-line substance use, addiction, and mental health support and services. AMHO members support Ontarians through their mental health and substance use challenges by providing community-based treatment, including counselling, structured psychotherapy, case management, withdrawal management, live-in addictions treatment, peer support, harm reduction supports, and supportive housing.
Media Contact:
David Turnbull
Director, Communications and Public Affairs
david.turnbull@amho.ca | 416-729-2031