Don't let addiction and mental health return to the shadows says provincial mental health and addiction partnership

For Immediate Release – August 27, 2007 – (TORONTO) – In this year’s provincial election campaign, Ontario politicians must not allow mental health and addiction issues to return to the shadows! That is the message from a partnership of provincial mental health and addictions organizations that include: Addictions Ontario, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Ontario; The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH); and The Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs (OFCMHAP).

This partnership has issued a challenge to all provincial leaders and political parties to address the needs of the more than 20% of Ontarians who will experience mental illness and substance abuse problems in their lifetime.

These recommendations have been highlighted in a new pre-election document titled Ontario Election 2007: Focus on Addiction and Mental Health. The document urges provincial leaders to build access to community-based mental health and addiction services, target the harms of alcohol and other drugs through a Provincial Drug Strategy, and invest in housing, consumer initiatives, and social supports. Ontario Election 2007: Focus on Addiction and Mental Health has been distributed to all political parties and MPPs, and is now available to the general public.

“We can all see the human cost of addictions and mental health on the well-being of Ontarians. It’s the hidden costs in lost productivity, and the use of costly emergency, shelter, and correctional services that diminishes our standard of living,” says David Kelly, Executive Director, OFCMHAP. “Our network of addiction services is in particular need of greater support.”

Those who provide mental health and addictions services see the human cost of poorly funded programs and services,” said David Kelly, executive director of the Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addictions Programs. “Our network of addiction services is in particular need of greater support.”

Lorne Zon, CEO, CMHA, Ontario, noted that the Province of Ontario has made important investments in community mental health during the current term of government. “These investments are improving the lives of those with mental illness,” says Zon. “But we need to work much harder to support those with mental illness to become full participants in our communities, by providing affordable housing, adequate income support and improved access to employment opportunities.”

Please visit www.camh.net, for a downloadable copy of Ontario Election 2007: Focus on Addiction and Mental Health and for further information on key provincial mental health and addiction election issues.

Media Contacts: Michael Torres, Media Relations, CAMH, (416) 595-6015; Kismet Baun, Communications Officer, CMHA, Ontario, (416) 977-5580, ext. 4141; David Kelly, Executive Director OFCMHAP, (416) 490-8900, ext. 22; Norma Medulun, President, Board of Directors, Addictions Ontario, (905) 682-6411, ext. 63121

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The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is one of the leading addiction and mental health organizations in North America and Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital. CAMH is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre, and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. CAMH combines clinical care, research, policy, education and health promotion to transform the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues.

PROVINCIAL MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION PARTNERSHIP BACKGROUNDER

This partnership was developed in 2004, and is comprised of four organizations that include: Addictions Ontario, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and The Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs (OFCMHAP). Together, they are committed to raising the profile of mental illness and addictions in Ontario, and to supporting the needs of those living with mental health and addictions problems, their families, and their communities.

About the work of this partnership:

As the province undergoes “health care transformation,” the partnership is advising the government on how to best support and enhance the mental health and addictions system. The move to Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) is of particular importance. The partnership wants to ensure that in a regionalized health system, mental health and addictions remains a priority. The partnership is also advocating for maintaining a strong provincial government role in mental health and addictions.