Poll: 81% of Canadians Support Federal Government Creating National Suicide Prevention Fund

Right By You Petition to Canadian Government Surpasses 25,000 signatures

TORONTO, Feb. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, Partners for Mental Health announced the results of their latest poll on mental health and youth suicide in Canada. The poll found that 93 per cent of Canadians believe youth mental health problems and illness deserve the same level of support as other illnesses and 88 per cent of Canadians think the government should be doing more to prevent tragedies like youth suicide.

The Ipsos Reid poll surveyed 1,000 Canadians during January 2014 seeking their views on how mental health in Canada should be handled. With initiatives like the Bell Let's Talk campaign, awareness around the issue of mental illness is gathering momentum in Canada and Partners for Mental Health is pushing for real action from the Canadian government.

"This is a very strong response from Canadians and governments across the country need to hear those voices. More needs to be done and quickly," said Jeff Moat, President of Partners for Mental Health. "This latest poll shows almost 60 per cent of parents with children under the age of 25 are concerned about their children's mental health.  We need our governments to take real action.  Young Canadians are suffering and too many are taking their own lives."

Topline Results

• 93% of Canadians agree that youth mental health problems and illness deserve the same level of support as any other illness.
  
  
• 88% of Canadians believe the government needs to be doing more to provide for the mental health needs of our young people to prevent tragedies like suicide.
  
  
• 81% of Canadians support using tax dollars to fund the creation of a dedicated national suicide prevention fund that would provide matching funds to provincial and territorial governments, or not-for-profit organizations, to create and support youth suicide prevention initiatives and programs across the country.
  
  
• 76% of Canadians agree the lack of support for mental health services is one of the most pressing issues facing youth today.
  
  
• 59% of Canadians believe there are NOT adequate services and support for the mental health of our children and youth.
  
  
• 59% of parents with kids under the age of 25 are concerned about the mental health of their child/children.

At the end of 2013, Partners for Mental Health launched their new Right By You campaign which included a powerful public service announcement and has rallied over 25,000 Canadians to sign a petition of support. The Right By You petition calls on governments to ensure youth get the help they need and deserve. Today, 75% of Canadian children who require mental health services are not getting them. The campaign draws attention to Canada's two tier system for mental health services that is currently failing our children and youth.  Partners for Mental Health believes the mental health of our children could be improved, and youth suicide rates dramatically reduced, for as little as $1,000 per child.

About Partners for Mental Health

Partners for Mental Health is a national, charitable organization dedicated to transforming the way we think about, act towards and support mental health in Canada. Partners for Mental Health aims to mobilize millions of Canadians to drive change by participating in campaigns, events and activities including influencing policy, volunteering and fundraising.

Learn more about the Right by You campaign and Partners for Mental Health.

SOURCE: Partners for Mental Health

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