Act for Mental Health calls for the promised Canada Mental Health Transfer now
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VANCOUVER, BC (November 18, 2022) – With rising mental health care needs and Emergency Departments stretched past their limits, Canada must act now to cover mental health care, both before and after people are in crisis. So says the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) with a coalition of Canadian organizations as they launch Act for Mental Health, an advocacy campaign calling for the creation of the promised Canada Mental Health Transfer by the Federal Government
Mental illnesses and substance use disorders will affect 1 in 3 Canadians in their lifetime, and research shows the pandemic made things worse.1 Of those millions of people, 1 in 3 can’t get the care they need. Some will wind up in Emergency Departments.
“When someone is in a mental health crisis, all roads lead to a hospital,” says Margaret Eaton, CMHA National CEO. “There is often nowhere else to turn, but Emergency Departments aren’t the cure for our mental health crisis.” Eaton goes on to say: “We’re also failing people once a crisis passes. Often, they’re discharged without the care they need because it either does not exist, or it isn’t covered.”
Under the Canada Health Act, mental health care is only covered by public health insurance when it is provided by physicians and/or in hospitals. Millions of Canadians don’t have a family doctor2 and can wait months, or more, to see a psychiatrist. Family doctors face challenges in caring for patients with mental health concerns, and publicly funded referral options are scarce.
As a conservative estimate, Canadians pay over $1 billion every year on private psychological services alone. While some free mental health and substance use health services exist, persistent underfunding to community-based agencies across the country means wait lists are long and services are limited. When we can’t afford to pay, often we don’t get the care we need, which can lead to crisis and to hospital.
“The federal government has promised major investments in mental health, but we have yet to see real action,” says Eaton. “They need to act now to cover mental health care. We all have the right to care that is publicly funded.”
In B.C., we are dealing with intersecting crises of mental health, toxic drugs and homelessness. Universal mental health care with funding from the federal government would go a long way in getting people the mental health and substance use supports they need, when they need them, and at no cost.
“British Columbians struggling with their mental health are having to wait until they are in crisis to access mental health services; and even then, they are not getting the follow-up care they need. By following through with their promised Canada Mental Health Transfer, and ensuring a significant portion of these funds go to community-based services, the Government of Canada can play its part to shift us from crisis mode to intervening and supporting people earlier, leading to better outcomes and significant savings for society.” – Jonny Morris, CEO of CMHA BC Division
The Act for Mental Health campaign is supported by a coalition of Canadian organizations and calls for the promised Canada Mental Health Transfer in the next federal budget as a first step towards true and universal public mental health care.
Canadians are encouraged to Act for Mental Health by visiting www.actformentalhealth.ca and getting involved. Together we will press the Government of Canada to provide all Canadians with access to universal mental health care.
For media inquiries:
Canadian Mental Health Association of B.C
Communications
604 353 8159
Media@cmha.bc.ca