Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has developed a new Mental Health Strategy to better serve people with lived experiences of mental health and addictions. The implementation of this strategy aims to change the way the legal system assists those in need of support. By increasing access to legal services and expanding the reach of legal advocacy, this vulnerable client population will be able to effectively address intersecting issues.
LAO officially launched its Mental Health Strategy in a March 11 presentation at Sound Times, which is a member-driven mental health support provider in downtown Toronto. CMHA Ontario was asked to speak at the event, reflecting our partnership with LAO and our contribution to the strategy.
“We’re pleased LAO included us during the extensive consultations that informed the development of this Mental Health Strategy and look forward to working further with them on this initiative. ”
– CMHA Ontario CEO Camille Quenneville
“We’re pleased LAO included us during the extensive consultations that informed the development of this Mental Health Strategy and look forward to working further with them on this initiative, which will improve outcomes for the clients we both serve,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario.
“We’re pleased with several elements of LAO’s mental health strategy, particularly the focus on providing client-centered care to empower individuals to determine their own best course of action when working with LAO staff.”
Since 2014, LAO has been engaged in consultations across the province to develop its Mental Health Strategy. The strategy is focused on rights, access to justice, and sustainable change, by improving advocacy for clients with mental health and addictions issues. LAO is engaged in several initiatives as a part of this strategy, such as its Provincial Offences Act Program at the Old City Hall Courthouse in Toronto, which is aimed at helping clients with mental health issues who are routinely charged with minor provincial offences such as panhandling or trespassing.
CMHA Ontario and the Provincial Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee have been engaged in a project with LAO since 2014 to develop a resource tool for lawyers assisting clients with mental health issues. The resource tool will help lawyers identify mental health concerns and any corresponding social supports that might be required, and provide guidance on where and how to access those supports. In improving the mental health competency of lawyers and advocates, the goal is to improve the process and the outcomes for clients with mental health and addictions issues in the justice system.