Ontario Election 2007: Recognizing the critical role of families

Ontario Election 2007: Focus on Addiction and Mental Health

Clients’ families are also an important part of the addiction and mental health sector. Families are involved in an ongoing, supportive role, and in many cases act as primary caregivers for people with mental health and addiction problems. Involvement in these roles has proven to have a positive impact on rates of hospitalization and relapse, adherence to treatment choices, and rates of recovery.(11) Yet families are not recognized or compensated for their work, nor do they receive the education and support they require to carry out this responsibility. The valuable contribution they make to Ontario’s health care system justifies a significantly greater investment in family programs and services.

Specifically, we recommend:

• dedicated funding for family peer support and family organizations
• a provincial policy framework that includes families in decision making for the addiction and mental health sector, and involves them as partners in care, rehabilitation and recovery.

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