Ontario Election 2011 Vote4MHA Campaign Sheela Subramanian, Policy Analyst Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Alliance

Who Are We? 10 mental health and addictions organizations: Consumer/survivor Family member Community Hospital Children and youth Addictions

Addictions Ontario Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Children’s Mental Health Ontario Mood Disorders Association of Ontario Ontario Association of Patient Councils Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addictions Programs Ontario Peer Development Initiative Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences Schizophrenia Society of Ontario +Over 80 supporting organizations across Ontario

Our Goal Make mental health and addictions a priority for the incoming government o Party leaders/candidates hear that MH&A is a priority for Ontarians o Parties say how they will address the issues o Voters raise MH&A issues in their ridings o MH&A as part of election dialogue

Why Mental Health & Addictions? Almost all Ontarians impacted Costs are high – Economic costs are over $30 billion in Ontario – Social and human costs immeasurable Critical gaps remain – Access to supports across Ontario – Wait times – Lack of leadership

Asks to Ontario’s Parties 1.Ensure equitable access to mental health and addictions services and supports for every Ontarian 2.Reduce wait times for children and youth 3.Improve access to supportive housing 4.Establish strong provincial leadership to address MH&A across sectors and ministries

1. Equitable Access to Services and Supports Issue MH&A services and supports are not available consistently across the province Action Required Invest in MH&A services to ensure access to core basket across Ontario to meet needs and reduce service gaps

2. Reduce Wait Times for Children and Youth Issue 70 % of adults with a MH issue experience first symptoms before age 18 Action Required Reduce wait times to ensure the MH&A system is responding to the needs of kids and youth in a timely way

3. Improve Access to Supportive Housing Issue People wait too long for the stable and supportive housing critical to recovery Action Required Improve access to supportive housing

4. Mobilize Leadership Issue MH&A involves multiple ministries and sectors, but coordination and leadership is lacking at gov’t level Action Required Put in place gov’t leadership to coordinate action across ministries and sectors. Consumers, families and providers must be involved in all aspects of the system

GET INVOLVED

As an Organization 1.Join the Network of Supporters Over 80 orgs across Ontario 2.Speak to candidates – Election Kit 3.Local media outreach 4.Spread the word

Network of Supporters

As an Individual 1.Letter campaign 2 minutes to write to leaders and candidates 2.Spread the word 3.Speak to candidates 4.Vote!

Questions?