(Toronto, Feb. 26, 2025) — Throughout the Ontario election period, much of the conversation around mental health and addictions has been centred on public safety. As Ontario prepares to elect a new government, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario are calling on all candidates to prioritize addictions and mental health concerns as matters of public healthcare.
Mental health and addictions do not discriminate. Individuals who are struggling with these healthcare concerns may be family members, friends, neighbours, or others close to us. With more than one million people in Ontario experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge every year, it is critical that these deeply personal matters are treated with care, compassion, and understanding.
In 2023, opioid related harms took the lives of more than 2,500 Ontarians – one-third of whom were working in the construction industry. Similarly, the number of adults who reported experiencing serious psychological distress in Ontario increased from 1 in 50 (2014), to nearly 1 in 6 (2023) in less than a decade.
As mental health and addictions challenges continue to rise across the province, so too do the number of Ontarians who have indicated their support for solutions focused on health care and social services.
A 2024 poll conducted by CMHA Ontario revealed that that more than 80 per cent of Ontarians would prefer investments in community mental health and addictions programs to address these healthcare matters rather than punitive measures.
“Discussing mental health and addictions only in the context of public safety further stigmatizes those who are struggling,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO, CMHA Ontario. “The conversation needs to include investments in community mental health and addictions care to provide adequate supports for those in need. We will continue to advocate to ensure we can provide the care that all Ontarians deserve.”
“Mental health and addictions challenges affect our loved ones, our coworkers, our neighbors and ourselves,” said Jennifer Holmes Weier, CEO, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario. “This is a conversation that touches every part of our society. Ontario currently allocates less than 3 per cent of its healthcare budget to mental health and addictions care. Treating these issues like healthcare issues begins with increased investments in the people and programs that help our communities be well.”
AMHO and CMHA Ontario are urging voters to make mental health and addictions care a priority when casting their ballot on election day. Voters interested in learning more about each party’s plans for mental health and addictions are encouraged to visit ThinkofYourSomeone.ca.
FAST FACTS:
- A report from Elections Ontario that only six per cent of eligible Ontario voters cast ballots early, a drop from close to 10 per cent who voted in advanced polling in 2022.
- Ontario’s community mental health and addictions sector is recommending a $300 million investment over the next three years to address the health human resource challenges and service gaps faced by the sector.
About Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario is a not-for-profit, charitable organization funded by the provincial government. We work to improve the lives of all Ontarians through leadership, collaboration and continual pursuit of excellence in community-based mental health and addictions services. Our vision is a society that embraces and invests in the mental health of all people. We are a trusted advisor to government, contributing to health systems development through policy formulation and recommendations that promote positive mental health.
About Addictions and Mental Health Ontario
Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) represents nearly 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.
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For more information, contact:
David Turnbull
Director, Public Affairs, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario
david.turnbull@amho.ca
Elham Bidgoli
Communications Director, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario
E: ebidgoli@ontario.cmha.ca