Ontario Election 2011Vote4MHA Campaign

Sheela Subramanian, Policy AnalystCanadian 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

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Addictions OntarioCanadian Mental Health Association, OntarioCentre for Addiction and Mental Health Children’s Mental Health OntarioMood Disorders Association of OntarioOntario Association of Patient CouncilsOntario Federation of Community Mental Health and

Addictions ProgramsOntario Peer Development InitiativeOntario Shores Centre for Mental Health SciencesSchizophrenia 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 Ontarianso Parties say how they will address the issueso Voters raise MH&A issues in their ridingso MH&A as part of election dialogue

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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GET INVOLVED

As an Organization

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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

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1. Letter campaign• 2 minutes to write to leaders and

candidates

2. Spread the word

3. Speak to candidates

4. Vote!

www.Vote4MHA.ca

Questions?