Liberals make wise investment in community mental health (and addiction) services

For Immediate Release (May 18, 2004) TORONTO - According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario, today’s budget is an important step forward for people with mental illness and addictions in Ontario. By committing to invest in community-based mental health services, the first budget by the McGuinty government has set a new path. This change is long overdue given the past 12 years of stagnant core funding for community mental health and addiction services.

“People with mental illness and addictions have been neglected by successive governments for 12 years,” said David Kelly, Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs. “During the last election, the Liberal government promised a change. This budget is a good first step and we look forward to working with the government to ensure the investments announced today will include services and supports for people with addictions - particularly given the high rate of co-occurrence of mental health and addiction problems.”

“Funding for mental health and addiction services is an excellent investment by the government; community mental health and addiction services save money by relieving pressure on more expensive services,” said Dr. Barbara Everett, CEO of CMHA, Ontario “Research has shown that they reduce hospitalizations by 86 percent and emergency room visits by 60 percent.”

“Mental health and addiction services have long been the orphan of the health system,” said Dr. Paul Garfinkel, CAMH President and CEO. “With the pressures this government faced given the province’s deficit situation, we applaud the McGuinty government for their forward thinking investment in services, as well as desperately needed increases in income supports. These investments will help some of Ontario’s most vulnerable people - those with mental health and addiction problems.”

CAMH, CMHA, Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs and other partners in the health and community sector will continue to work together and with the provincial government to ensure this funding has maximum benefit for the people needing mental health and addiction services in Ontario.

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Liz Scanlon
CMHA, Ontario
(416) 977-5580 ext. 4131

Sylvia Hagopian
CAMH
(416) 595-6015

David Kelly
OFCMHAP
(416) 490-8900 ext. 22