CAMIMH Urges Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments to Support Investments in Mental Health

OTTAWA, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW/ - As the national voice of 17 national health organizations in Canada, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) commends the Government of Canada, today, for making mental health a priority and calls on all levels of government to work together towards building access and capacity to meet the mental health needs of all people in Canada.

"CAMIMH appreciates that each province and territory is committed to addressing the mental health needs of their constituents, however, that they simply do not have the fiscal capacity on their own to meet the growing demand," said Chris Summerville, CAMIMH Co-chair. "Today's targeted mental health commitment will support moving collaboratively towards addressing immediate needs while providing a path forward for a long term and accountable national mental health strategy."

In October, CAMIMH released Mental Health Now! that identified five recommendations to improve access to mental health care for the millions of Canadians who need it. CAMIMH has been consistent in urging the Federal Government to take a leadership role in addressing gaps in mental health care.

"CAMIMH has been encouraging dedicated mental health funding from the federal government for many years. CAMIMH members appreciate that each province and territory has challenges with the overall funding framework for health, however we urge them to take the offer currently on the table for dedicated mental health funding, and we look forward to working with all levels of government to ensure the program is a success." said Lisa Crawley, CAMIMH co-chair.

Established in 1998, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is an alliance of mental health organizations comprised of health care providers and organizations representing persons with mental illness and their families and caregivers. CAMIMH's mandate is to ensure that mental health is placed on the national agenda so that persons with a lived experience of mental illness and their families receive appropriate access to care and support.

SOURCE Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health

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