The Ontario Greens have launched a standalone mental health platform, Building a More Caring Ontario, ahead of the 2022 provincial election.
The plan acknowledges a recent CMHA Ontario poll which showed that almost half of Ontarians said their mental health has worsened since the pandemic began, and 1 in 4 Ontarians are now seeking help for their mental health needs.
“We know that the past 2 years of the pandemic have taken a tremendous toll on Ontarians’ mental health,” said Camille Quenneville, CEO of CMHA Ontario.
“We are delighted to see the Green Party’s focus on mental health and making it more accessible and affordable for Ontarians’. We hope all parties will include comprehensive mental health plans as part of their platforms in the upcoming provincial campaign.”
“Mental health is health,” Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner said. “It needs to be a priority.”
The plan lays out ten key objectives, which include:
- Significantly expand access to mental health and addiction care under OHIP.
- Increase mental health and addiction spending to 10% of our health budget.
- Develop a 3 digit (e.g. 7-1-1) dedicated crisis response line and health-focused crisis response teams to respond to mental health and substance related calls.
- Reduce waitlists to 30 days or less for children’s mental health services.
- Support Indigenous-led clinics and healing programs for mental health.
- Create a dedicated Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.
- Decriminalize drug use, expand safe consumption sites, and shift funding from the justice system to healthcare.
- Build 60,000 permanent supportive housing spaces with wrap-around mental health and other supports.
- Enhance mental well-being with connected communities and expanded access to nature trails, parks and protected greenspace.
- Invest in more Youth Wellness Hubs and community centres that offer access to local mental health services, spaces for social interaction, and supports for families.
Read the complete plan at gpo.ca/mentalhealth.