CTV news is holding a televised debate between the three major party leaders on Sunday May 27, 2018. We encourage everyone to submit questions ahead of the debate regarding mental health and addictions.
For decades, mental health and addictions services in communities throughout Ontario have been chronically underfunded compared to other parts of the health system. The result: the mental health and addictions system is crumbling. It’s impossible to meet the needs of Ontarians. Wait times are up. Programs have been cut. People are falling through the cracks.
Community-based mental health and addiction agencies are struggling. They have experienced few government funding increases for many years. Ontario’s mental health and addictions budget is smaller now than it was in 1979.
1 in 5 Ontarians experience a mental health problem or illness in any given year. We, at CMHA Ontario, want to bring mental health and addictions care to the forefront of the June 7, 2018 provincial election.
How will Ontario care for those living with mental illnesses and addictions? How will we ensure all Ontarians have timely access to programs? What are some of the challenges your communities are experiencing?
Please send your questions to the party leaders by emailing CTV news at debatequestions@ctv.ca. Don’t forget to include your name, address, phone number and email address.
For more ways to put mental health and addictions on the political radar, please visit erasethedifference.ca.