Provincial spring budget announcement budget must make mental health care a priority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, May 17, 2004, TORONTO - Tomorrow's provincial budget must make mental health care a priority, according to three of the leading organizations in the Ontario's mental health and addiction field. After twelve years of frozen core budgets for community mental health services, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario and the Ontario Federation for Mental Health and Addictions Programs are looking for a spring thaw from the McGuinty government.

"After twelve years, this government has given people with mental illness and addiction problems hope that they will get the help they desperately need. The Liberal election platform promised funding for community mental health and addiction services and supportive housing," said Dr. Paul Garfinkel, President of CAMH. "Tomorrow's budget will tell them if they were right to hope."

The waiting lists for much needed mental health and addiction services have grown in every community across Ontario. According to a report by the Federation, eighty percent of mental health and addiction organizations surveyed have had to temporarily close programs, and one quarter have closed programs permanently, putting even greater pressure on the services that remain.

"The waiting time can make the difference between life and death for people with serious mental illness or addiction," said David Kelly, the Federation's Executive Director. "We know the programs work; when people receive community mental health services, they experience fewer crises, spend less time in hospital and visit the emergency room less often. When they don't, tragedies can occur."

The shortage of services and accompanying waiting lists alarms Linda Stewardson, of Thunder Bay, who will be receiving the Courage to Come Back Award from CAMH this week. She credits her recovery from mental illness in large part to a program called the Rehabilitation Action Program (RAP) offered by CMHA, Thunder Bay. Currently, the waiting list for that program is six months long, and staff are considering closing off referrals until more funding can be secured.

"Although I had the courage to get better, I didn't know how to make it happen. The RAP program gave me the tools I needed to recover," said Stewardson. "Now, there are people that need to wait six months to get those tools. If I had to wait six months when I went to CMHA, Thunder Bay for help five years ago, I wouldn't be receiving this award today. I might not be alive."

"We know that the McGuinty government has heard our pleas. They told us so during the election," added Dr. Barbara Everett, CEO of CMHA, Ontario. "What remains to be seen is whether their first budget will turn promises into action.

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Liz Scanlon                       Sylvia Hagopian          David Kelly
CMHA, Ontario                   CAMH                      OFCMHAP
(416) 977-5580 ext. 4131    (416) 595-6015         (416) 490-8900 ext. 22

Background:

FACT SHEET - COST OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTION

Over 1.5 million Canadians are currently experiencing clinical depression, a disorder that affects 15% of Canadians at some point in their lives.

20% of Canadians will suffer from a broad range of mental illness or addiction over their lifetimes, and 3% suffer profound and persistent disablement.

Health Canada has reported that lost productivity due to workers being on disability or due to premature death was more than $8 billion in 1998 - among the most costly of all health problems.

Substance use cost the Canadian economy an estimated $18 billion in 1992, which represented 2.7% of gross domestic product in that year.