Last week, CMHA’s acting national CEO, Andrew Jones, and CMHA Toronto’s Executive Director, Steve Lurie, met with the federal Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Philpott.
On the agenda was CMHA’s call for long-term, sustainable mental health funding and further discussion of the government’s commitment to make high-quality mental health services more available to Canadians who need them.
CMHA is advocating for the establishment of a Mental Health Transition and Innovation Fund that could help provinces increase mental health spending to 9% of their health care budget and social care spending by 2% above current levels. This echoes recommendations made by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) in its 2012 mental health strategy. The fund would be used to plan better for and integrate mental health care in primary health care settings; establish acceptable wait times for community mental health services; and set standards for accessing evidence-informed services and supports that we know help people.
Visit the national #GETLOUD for increased mental health funding campaign page to find out how you can make a difference to mental health services in Canada.